A Facile Synthesis of Cleavable Block Copolymers via Tandem Polymerizations of NMRP and ATRP

A functionalized compound, 4‐(2‐bromoisobutyryl)‐2,2,6,6‐tetra‐methylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (Br‐TEMPO), was synthesized and used to synthesize block copolymers through tandem nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, Br‐TEMPO was used to mediate the polymerization of styrene. The kinetics of polymerization proved a typical “living” nature of the reaction and the effectiveness in the mediation of polymerization of Br‐TEMPO. Then the PS‐Br macroinitiator was used to initiate atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A series of acrylates were initiated by PS‐Br macroinitiators in typical ATRP processes at various conditions. The controlled polymerization of ATRP was also confirmed by molecular weight and kinetic analysis. Several cleavable block copolymers of PS‐b‐P(t‐BA), PS‐b‐P(n‐BA), and PS‐b‐PMA, with different molecular weights, were synthesized via this strategy. Relatively low polydispersities (<1.5) were observed and the molecular weights were in agreement with the theoretical ones. Hydrolysis of PS‐b‐P(t‐BA) was carried out, giving amphiphilic block copolymer PS‐b‐PAA without the cleavage of C‐ON bond or ester bond. All the block copolymers have two T_gs as demonstrated by DSC. A typical cleavable block copolymer of PS‐b‐PMA was cleaved by adding phenylhydrazine at 120°C to produce homopolymers in situ.     

丙烯酸(N-甲基全氟己烷磺酰胺基)乙酯与MMA梯度共聚物的合成与表征

通过电子转移再生催化剂的原子转移自由基聚合(ARGET ATRP)研究了甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)和丙烯酸(N-甲基全氟己烷磺酰胺基)乙酯(C₆SA)的共聚可控性及单体的反应活性, 利用Kelen-Tüdos法测得MMA和C₆SA的表观竞聚率分别为r(MMA)=1.42, r(C₆SA)=0.34. 在此基础上, 考察了聚合过程中共聚物组成和表面能的变化. 共聚物的凝胶渗透色谱法(GPC)曲线呈现严格的单峰分布, 分子量随着转化率的增加而增加, 且分布较窄(多分散系数PDI<1.3), 共聚反应表现出"活性"聚合的特征. 静态接触角测试结果显示, 共聚物表面能随着转化率的增加而降低, ¹H NMR结果显示, C₆SA链节的含量随着分子链的增长而增加, 分子链由开始时的MMA为主导转变为后期的C₆SA为主导, 表明形成了梯度共聚物.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel well-defined comb-like ionomer

A novel well-defined comb-like ionomer with cations was synthesized by the combination of living anionic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The synthetic approach involves the coupling reaction of polystyrene (PS) backbone bearing 1,1-diphenylethene (DPE) pendant groups with living polystyryllithium (PSLi), subsequent amine functionalization of the resulting 1,1-diphenylmethyl anions with 3-dimethylaminopropyl chloride (DMAPC), and quaternization of tertiary amino groups with hydrochloric acid. The comb-like ionomer was characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, GPC measurements and end-group titrition.     

机理转移法合成聚丁二烯-b-聚(甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲氨基乙酯)两亲性嵌段共聚物

将活性负离子聚合与原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)技术相结合,运用机理转移法制备了一种两亲性材料聚丁二烯-b-聚(甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲氨基乙酯)(PB-b-PDMAEMA)嵌段共聚物.首先通过负离子聚合方法设计合成聚丁二烯,用环氧丙烷封端,2-溴异丁酰溴作酯化剂,合成具有活性端基溴的聚丁二烯大分子引发剂(PB-B r),再用其引发亲水性单体DMAEMA进行原子转移自由基聚合,聚合动力学证实了该聚合反应具有典型的活性/可控自由基聚合的特征.通过差示扫描量热法(DSC)研究嵌段共聚物的微相分离行为.制备的大分子引发剂及两亲性嵌段共聚物经凝胶色谱、红外和核磁表征证实了预定的结构.     

A new tetradentate ligand for atom transfer radical polymerization

The properties of a ligand, including molecular structure and substituents, strongly affect the catalyst activity and control of the polymerization in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A new tetradentate ligand, N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl‐3‐hexoxo‐3‐oxopropyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (BPED) was synthesized and examined as the ligand of copper halide for ATRP of styrene (St), methyl acrylate (MA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA), and compared with other analogous linear tetrdendate ligands. The BPED ligand was found to significantly promote the activation reaction: the CuBr/BPED complex reacted with the initiators so fast that a large amount of Cu(II)Br₂/BPED was produced and thus the polymerizations were slow for all the monomers. The reaction of CuCl/BPED with the initiator was also fast, but by reducing the catalyst concentration or adding CuCl₂, the activation reaction could be slowed to establish the equilibrium of ATRP for a well‐controlled living polymerization of MA. CuCl/BPED was found very active for the polymerization of MA. For example, 10 mol% of the catalyst relatively to the initiator was sufficient to mediate a living polymerization of MA. The CuCl/BPED, however, could not catalyze a living polymerization of MMA because the resulting CuCl₂/BPED could not deactivate the growing radicals. The effects of the ligand structures on the catalysis of ATRP are also discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3553–3562, 2004     

Block copolymers by chemoenzymatic cascade polymerization: A comparison of consecutive and simultaneous reactions

The synthetic parameters for the chemoenzymatic cascade synthesis of block copolymers combining enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (EROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in one pot were investigated. A detailed analysis of the mutual interactions between the single reaction components revealed that the ATRP catalyst system could have a significant inhibiting effect on the enzyme activity. The inhibition of the enzyme was less pronounced in the presence of multivalent ligands such as dinonyl bipyridine, which thus could be used in this reaction as an ATRP catalyst. Moreover, the choice of the ATRP monomer was investigated. Methyl methacrylate interfered with EROP by transesterification, whereas t‐butyl methacrylate was inert. Block copolymers were successfully synthesized with this cascade approach by the activation of ATRP after EROP by the addition of the ATRP catalyst and, with lower block copolymer yields, by the mixing of all the components before the copolymerization. Adetailed kinetic analysis of the reactions and the structure of the block copolymers showed that the first procedure proceeded smoothly to high block copolymer yields, whereas in the latter a noteworthy amount of the poly(t‐butyl methacrylate) homopolymer was detected. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4290–4297, 2006     

具有预期结构的苯乙烯与丙烯酸丁酯接枝共聚物的合成与表征

通过苯乙烯 (St)与 4 对氯甲基苯乙烯 (CMS)进行氮氧稳定自由基共聚合反应 ,合成了二元共聚物P(St co CMS) ,并以此共聚物引发丙烯酸丁酯进行原子转移自由基聚合 ,成功地合成了结构明晰的以聚苯乙烯为主链、聚丙烯酸丁酯为支链的接枝共聚物 ,研究了共聚合反应动力学 .P(St co CMS)和接枝共聚物的结构通过1 H NMR得到确认 ,并表征了接枝共聚物平均侧链数目和平均侧链长度     

Atom transfer radical polymerization using activators regenerated by electron transfer of acrylonitrile in 1‐(1‐ethoxycarbonylethyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophospate

Atom transfer radical polymerization using activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET ATRP) of acrylonitrile (AN) was first approached with 1‐(1‐ethoxycarbonylethyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([ecemim][BF₄]) as reaction medium and tin(II) bis(2‐ethylhexanoate) (Sn(EH)₂) as reducing agent in the presence of air. When compared with in bulk, an obvious increase of polymer isotacticity was observed for ARGET ATRP of AN in 1‐(1‐ethoxycarbonylethyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophospate ([ecemim][PF₆]), the reaction rate of ARGET ATRP of AN in [ecemim][PF₆] was higher and the polymerization process was better controlled. The block copolymer polyacrylonitrile‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) with molecular weight at 69,750, distribution at 1.34, and isotacticity at 0.36 was successfully obtained in [ecemim][PF₆]. [Ecemim][PF₆] and the catalyst system were recycled and reused and had no effect on the living nature of polymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of H‐shaped complex macromolecular structures by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization,photoinduced radical coupling,ring‐opening polymerization,and iniferter processes

Three controlled/living polymerization processes, namely atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and iniferter polymerization, and photoinduced radical coupling reaction were combined for the preparation of ABCBD‐type H‐shaped complex copolymer. First, α‐benzophenone functional polystyrene (BP‐PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (BP‐PMMA) were prepared independently by ATRP. The resulting polymers were irradiated to form ketyl radicals by hydrogen abstraction of the excited benzophenone moieties present at each chain end. Coupling of these radicals resulted in the formation of polystyrene‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PMMA) with benzpinacole structure at the junction point possessing both hydroxyl and iniferter functionalities. ROP of ε‐caprolactone (CL) by using PS‐b‐PMMA as bifunctional initiator, in the presence of stannous octoate yielded the corresponding tetrablock copolymer, PCL‐PS‐PMMA‐PCL. Finally, the polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) via iniferter process gave the targeted H‐shaped block copolymer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4601–4607     

Synthesis,characterization, and micellization of an epoxy‐based amphiphilic diblock copolymer of ϵ‐caprolactone and glycidyl methacrylate by enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

Amphiphilic diblock copolymer polycaprolactone‐block‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PCL‐b‐PGMA) was synthesized via enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (eROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Methanol first initiated eROP of ?‐caprolactone (?‐CL) in the presence of biocatalyst Novozyme‐435 under anhydrous conditions. The resulting monohydroxyl‐terminated polycaprolactone (PCL–OH) was subsequently converted to a bromine‐ended macroinitiator (PCL–Br) for ATRP by esterification with α‐bromopropionyl bromide. PCL‐b‐PGMA diblock copolymers were synthesized in a subsequent ATRP of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). A kinetic analysis of ATRP indicated a living/controlled radical process. The macromolecular structures were characterized for PCL–OH, PCL–Br, and the block copolymers by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analyses indicated that the copolymer composition (?‐CL/GMA) had a great influence on the thermal properties. The well‐defined, amphiphilic diblock copolymer PCL‐b‐PGMA self‐assembled into nanoscale micelles in aqueous solutions, as investigated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5037–5049, 2007     

Hybrid atom transfer radical polymerization system for balanced polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight control

A hybrid polymerization system that combines the fast reaction kinetics of conventional free radical polymerization and the control of molecular weight and distribution afforded by ATRP has been developed. High‐free radical initiator concentrations in the range of 0.1–0.2 M were used in combination with a low concentration of ATRP catalyst. Conversions higher than 90% were achieved with ATRP catalyst concentrations of less than 20 ppm within 2 h for the hybrid ATRP system as compared with ATRPs where achieving such conversions would take up to 24 h. These reaction conditions lead to living polymerizations where polymer molecular weight increases linearly with monomer conversion. As in living polymerization and despite the fast rates and low ATRP catalyst concentrations, the polydispersity of the produced polymer remained below 1.30. Chain extension experiments from a synthesized macroinitiator were successful, which demonstrate the living characteristics of the hybrid ATRP process. Catalyst concentrations as low as 16 ppm were found to effectively mediate the growth of over 100 polymer chains per catalytic center, whereas at the same time negating the need for post polymerization purification given the low‐catalyst concentration. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2294–2301, 2010     

SYNTHESIS OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)-graft-POLYSTYRENE BY ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

The radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was carried out via atomtransfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiated by ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate and catalyzed by CuBr/2,2'-bipyridinecomplex. This polymerization proceeds in a living fashion with controlled molecular weight and low polydispersity. Theobtained copolymer was esterified with 2-bromoisobutylryl bromide yielding a macroinitiator, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate), and its structure was characterized by ~1H-NMR. This macroinitiator was used for ATRP of styrene to synthesize poly(methyl methacrylate)-graft-polystyrene. Themolecular weight of graft copolymer increased with the monomer conversion, and the polydispersity remained relatively low.The individual grafted polystyrene chains were cleaved from the macroinitiator backbone by hydrolysis and the hydrolyzed product was characterized by ~1H-NMR and GPC.     

Synthesis of a ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization

The functionalization of monomer units in the form of macroinitiators in an orthogonal fashion yields more predictable macromolecular architectures and complex polymers. Therefore, a new ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer, (PMMA)₂–PEO–(PS)₂–PEO–(PMMA)₂ [where PMMA is poly(methyl methacrylate), PEO is poly (ethylene oxide), and PS is polystyrene], has been designed and successfully synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and living anionic polymerization. The synthesis of meso‐2,3‐dibromosuccinic acid acetate/diethylene glycol was used to initiate the polymerization of styrene via ATRP to yield linear (HO)₂–PS₂ with two active hydroxyl groups by living anionic polymerization via diphenylmethylpotassium to initiate the polymerization of ethylene oxide. Afterwards, the synthesized miktoarm‐4 amphiphilic block copolymer, (HO–PEO)₂–PS₂, was esterified with 2,2‐dichloroacetyl chloride to form a macroinitiator that initiated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate via ATRP to prepare the ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer. The polymers were characterized with gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 147–156, 2007     

结构明确的梳形支化聚合物的合成与表征

通过活性聚苯乙烯(PS)和聚异戊二烯(PI)负离子与含1,1-二苯基乙烯(DPE)侧基的聚苯乙烯(PSe)的偶联反应合成了结构明确的每个重复单元含一条侧链的梳形支化聚合物,其中,PSe是通过Sc单体的原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)和Wittig反应制得的.用IR1、H-NMR、GPC和SLS等测试方法对所得梳形支化聚合物进行了详细表征,讨论了活性负离子链与PSe的DPE基团的配比对接枝率的影响.结果表明,活性负离子链与DPE基团的偶联反应是高效的,可以通过调节活性负离子链与DPE基团的加料比来控制接枝率.另外,还讨论了PSe和活性负离子链的分子量对接枝率的影响.结果表明,在实验范围内当活性负离子链过量时可获得几乎定量的接枝率.     

Synthesis of block and graft copolymers of β-pinene and styrene by transformation of living cationic polymerization to atom transfer radical polymerization

The transformations of living cationic polymerization to ATRP to form the block and graft copolymers of β-pinene with styrene were performed. Poly(β-pinene) carrying benzyl chloride terminal [poly(β-p)StCl] was prepared by capping the living poly(β-pinene), which was obtained with 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, with a few units of styrene. Poly(β-p)StCl, in conjunction with CuCl and bpy, could initiate the ATRP of styrene and gave well-defined block copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. In contrast, tert-alkyl-chlorine-capped poly(β-pinene) [poly(β-p)Cl] obtained by living cationic polymerization of β-pinene per se without capping of styrene gave a mixture of desired block copolymers and unreacted poly(β-p)Cl due to the low initiating reactivity of poly(β-p)Cl. Brominated poly(β-pinene) synthesized by the quantitative bromination of poly(β-pinene) using NBS was also used to initiate the ATRP of styrene in the presence of CuBr and bpy to prepare the graft copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. The first-order kinetic characteristic and linear increment of molecule weight with the increasing of monomer conversion indicated the living nature of this ATRP grafting.     

Synthesis of well-defined polymers with protected silanol groups by atom transfer radical polymerization and their use for the fabrication of polymeric nanoparticles

Copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of a protected silanol group-holding methacrylate, methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MOPS), was investigated. In a dry condition using carefully distilled solvent and monomer, the polymerization proceeded in a living fashion providing a low-polydispersity polymer with a predicted molecular weight. The ATRP in conjunction with the sequential monomer addition of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and MOPS afforded a block copolymer of the type PMMA-b-poly(MMA-r-MOPS). The heat treatment of a solution of the block copolymer in the presence of a catalytic amount of ammonia gave a polymeric core-shell nanoparticle with a shell of PMMA moieties and a core of the poly(MMA-r-MOPS) blocks cross-linked via the condensation of the trimethoxysilane groups of the MOPS moieties.     

A NOVEL PHOTO-INITIATING SYSTEM FOR ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE

A novel photo-induced initiating system, 2, 2 - dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA)/ferric tri(N,N-diethyl-dithiocarbamate) [Fe(DC)_3], was developed and used for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene intoluene. The polymerization proceeds with DMPA as photo-initiator, Fc(DC)_3 as catalyst and DC as a reversible transfergroup, while the halogen and ligands are free. Well-defined PSt was prepared and the polymerization mechanism revealed byend group analysis belongs to a reverse ATRP. Block copolymer was prepared by using thus obtained PSt as macroinitiatorand Fe(DC)_2 as catalyst under UV light irradiation via a conventional ATRP process.     

双亲支链梳形共聚物的合成及其自乳化负载药物性能

通过可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合制备出聚甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(PGMA),经过叠氮钠与PGMA环氧基团的反应引入叠氮基和羟基,然后依次通过端炔基聚乙二醇(PEG-alk)与叠氮基的点击反应,己内酯(CL)在羟基存在下的开环聚合反应,获得双亲支链梳形共聚物(PGMA-g-PEG/PCL)。利用该梳形共聚物的两亲性,在氯仿-水混合体系中,进行自乳化高效负载阿霉素(DOX),得到负载DOX的纳米粒子。利用核磁共振氢谱、红外光谱和凝胶渗透色谱确认了最终产物及其前体聚合物的结构。利用动态光散射、紫外可见分光光度计和扫描电镜研究该载药粒子在pH为7.0和5.0的水溶液中的释放。结果表明:该纳米粒子平均粒径约为100nm,该粒子能有效释放DOX,在酸性条件下释放速率加快,且伴随PCL的降解。     

Synthesis of PMMA‐b‐PBA block copolymer in homogeneous and miniemulsion systems by DPE controlled radical polymerization

In this research, poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(butyl acrylate) (PMMA‐b‐PBA) block copolymers were prepared by 1,1‐diphenylethene (DPE) controlled radical polymerization in homogeneous and miniemulsion systems. First, monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA), initiator 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and a control agent DPE were bulk polymerized to form the DPE‐containing PMMA macroinitiator. Then the DPE‐containing PMMA was heated in the presence of a second monomer BA, the block copolymer was synthesized successfully. The effects of solvent and polymerization methods (homogeneous polymerization or miniemulsion polymerization) on the reaction rate, controlled living character, molecular weight (M_n) and molecular weight distribution (PDI) of polymers throughout the polymerization were studied and discussed. The results showed that, increasing the amounts of solvent reduced the reaction rate and viscosity of the polymerization system. It allowed more activation–deactivation cycles to occur at a given conversion thus better controlled living character and narrower molecular weight distribution of polymers were demonstrated throughout the polymerization. Furthermore, the polymerization carried out in miniemulsion system exhibited higher reaction rate and better controlled living character than those in homogeneous system. It was attributed to the compartmentalization of growing radicals and the enhanced deactivation reaction of DPE controlled radical polymerization in miniemulsified droplets. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4435–4445, 2009     

Narrow-disperse Highly Cross-linked “Living” Polymer Microspheres by Two-stage Precipitation Polymerization

Narrow-disperse, surface-functionalized "living" polymer microspheres with uniformly cross-linked structures were prepared by two-stage precipitation copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene. The two-stage precipitation polymerization is composed of an initial conventional precipitation polymerization for the nucleation followed by a reverse atom transfer radical polymerization(reverse ATRP) for the controlled polymerization process. The polymerization parameters(including reaction time for the first stage, AIBN amount and monomer loading) have been studied to show significant influences on the morphologies. Moreover, narrower size distribution and an ATRP initiator-functional surface of resulting particles can be obtained by applying reverse ATRP to conventional precipitation polymerization in the second stage. Furthermore, the "livingness" of the resulting polymer microspheres was testified by their surface modification of poly[2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate](PDMAEMA) brushes via surface-initiated ATRP(SI-ATRP).