Iniferter concept and living radical polymerization

Iniferters are initiators that induce radical polymerization that proceeds via initiation, propagation, primary radical termination, and transfer to initiator. Because bimolecular termination and other transfer reactions are negligible, these polymerizations are performed by the insertion of the monomer molecules into the iniferter bond, leading to polymers with two iniferter fragments at the chain ends. The use of well‐designed iniferters would give polymers or oligomers bearing controlled end groups. If the end groups of the polymers obtained by a suitable iniferter serve further as a polymeric iniferter, these polymerizations proceed by a living radical polymerization mechanism in a homogeneous system. In these cases, the iniferters (C S bond) are considered a dormant species of the initiating and propagating radicals. In this article, I describe the history, ideas, and some characteristics of iniferters and living radical polymerization with some iniferters that contain dithiocarbamate groups as photoiniferters and several compounds as thermal iniferters. From the viewpoint of controlled polymer synthesis, iniferters can be classified into several types: thermal or photoiniferters; monomeric, polymeric, or gel iniferters; monofunctional, difunctional, trifunctional, or polyfunctional iniferters; monomer or macromonomer iniferters; and so forth. These lead to the synthesis of various monofunctional, telechelic, block, graft, star, and crosslinked polymers. The relations between this work and other recent studies are discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2121–2136, 2000     

新型引发转移终止剂引发烯类单体活性自由基聚合及共聚合

引发转移终止剂 (Iniferter)是最早实现活性自由基聚合的方法 ,尽管它对聚合过程控制得不是很好 ,但是可聚合单体多 ,能方便地制备接枝和嵌段共聚物 .因此 ,近 2 0年来 ,它一直是高分子合成化学领域的一个研究热点 ,许多新颖结构的引发转移终止剂被合成并用于制备端基功能化聚合物、遥爪聚合物、大分子单体以及接枝和嵌段聚合物等 .本文扼要综述了引发转移终止剂的发展 ,着重综述了我们研究组在C—C键型高活性热引发转移终止剂、新的光引发转移终止剂、可聚合光引发转移终止剂、新型多功能引发转移终止剂和大分子光引发转移终止剂 5个方面的研究进展     

引发转移终止剂技术合成含有聚异戊二烯链段的三嵌段共聚物

含聚异戊二烯 (ＰＩＰ)链段的嵌段共聚物有着广泛的应用[1～ 3 ] ,有关它的合成、性能表征及应用方面的研究一直是学术及工业界的研究热点 .传统上 ,含有ＰＩＰ链段的嵌段共聚物用活性负离子聚合的方法来合成 ,例如 :聚苯乙烯 聚异戊二烯嵌段共聚物[3 ,4 ] .这是由聚合物增长链端的特殊活性所决定的 ,采用活性负离子聚合方法 ,不但能很好地控制共聚物的分子量和分子量分布 ,而且能控制共聚物中各组分的比例 .但是 ,负离子聚合通常需在较苛刻的条件下进行 ,如低温高真空、高纯度的单体和溶剂 ,而且能用于负离子聚合的单体也有限 .相对而言 ,…     

Synthesis of Star‐Shaped Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐b‐Poly(styrene) Block Copolymer by Combining Ring‐Opening Polymerization and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Newly designed star‐shaped block copolymers made of poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polystyrene (PS) were synthesized by combining ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone (CL) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene (St). The switch from the first to the second mechanism was obtained by selective transformation of “living” radical sites. First, tri‐ and tetrafunctional initiators were used as an initiator for the “living” ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone producing a hydroxyl terminated three or four arm star‐shaped polymer. Next, the OH end groups of PCL star branches were derivatized into 2‐bromoisobutyrate groups which gave rise to the corresponding tri‐ and tetrabromoester ended‐PCL stars; the latter served as macroinitiators for the ATRP of styrene at 110°C in the presence of CuBr/2,2‐bipyridine (Bipy) catalyst system affording star‐shaped block copolymers PCL_n‐b‐PS_n (n=3 or 4). The samples obtained were characterizated by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and GPC (gel permeation chromatograph). These copolymers exhibited the expected structure. The crystallization of star‐shaped block copolymers was studied by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). The results show that when the content of the PS block increased, the T_m of the star‐shaped block copolymer decreased.     

Flexibilized styrene–N‐substituted maleimide copolymers. II. Multiblock copolymers prepared from PTHF‐based iniferters

This article describes the synthesis and molecular characterization of thermal polymeric iniferters, based on hydroxy‐terminated poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF), bearing thiuram disulfide groups along the chain. Thermal polymerization after the addition of styrene (S) and N‐methylmaleimide (MI) to these PTHF‐based polymeric iniferters yielded segmented PTHF (SMI‐block‐PTHF)_n block copolymers that proved to have a single T_g. The multiblock copolymers were molecularly characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and NMR. The thermal stability, as checked by thermogravimetric analysis, proved to be good up to about 350 °C. A size exclusion chromatography/differential viscosity (DV) analysis showed that the molecular weights of the synthesized single‐phase multiblock copolymers were sufficiently high (several times the estimated molecular weight between two adjacent entanglements) to determine the entanglement density from the rubbery plateau modulus, for which the method developed by S. Wu (J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 1989, 27, 723–741) was applied. The entanglement density of flexibilized SMI proved to be about 20–25% higher than that of the nonflexibilized SMI. This increase is disappointing, and more work, based on the described concept, is required to achieve the desired enhancement of the toughness. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3558–3568, 2000     

Photochemistry of polymeric systems. II. Photocrosslinking of polymers and copolymers containing various aromatic N-oxide groups

2-Methyl-5-vinylpyridine-N-oxide, 4-vinylquinoline-N-oxide. 9-vinylacridine-N-oxide, p-N,N-dimethylaminostyrene-N-oxide units were introduced in polymeric chains as homopolymers or/and as styrene copolymers to study their photocrosslinking. The method used for characterization of photocrosslinked films was a “photoresist test” described in Part I of this series. The photosensitivity of the different chromophores bound to the different polymer has also been studied by UV, IR, and fluorescence spectrophotometries. The use of aromatic amine N-oxide groups in polymers seems to be a general means to produce their photocrosslinking by radical reactions. Among the different polymeric materials prepared, 4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide and 4-vinylquinoline-N-oxide are the most photosensitive.     

Block Copolymers in Emulsion and Dispersion Polymerization

Summary: This article deals with recent progress including the authors' work concerning the application of block copolymers as polymeric surfactants in heterophase polymerizations. The synthesis methods for preparing block copolymers by emulsion and dispersion techniques are outlined, with emphasis on recently developed controlled free radical polymerizations in aqueous media. Specific characteristics of amphiphilic block copolymers are described, for example, micellization and emulsifying effects. A general overview of emulsion and dispersion polymerization in an aqueous and organic medium with ionic and nonionic block copolymers is presented for the preparation of electrosteric and sterically stabilized latex particles. Typical examples of microemulsion, miniemulsion, oil‐in‐oil emulsion, and micellar polymerizations are provided. Current and potential developments of so‐called “hairy latexes”, inverse‐, multiple‐, and solid emulsions, as well as of nonaqueous polymeric dispersions are also discussed.

PS foam obtained by free radical polymerization of water‐in‐styrene, stabilized with a PS–PEO diblock copolymer.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane–polyvinylbenzyl chloride multiblock copolymers and their cationomers using a polyurethane macroiniferter

Polyurethane iniferter prepared from isocyanate end capped prepolymer and 1,1,2,2-tetraphenyl-1,2-ethanediol, has been used to polymerize vinylbenzyl chloride to obtain polyurethane-polyvinylbenzyl chloride multiblock copolymers. Formation of the block copolymers proceeds with increase in both molecular weight and conversion with increasing polymerization time showing that the polymerization proceeds via a “living” radical mechanism. The block copolymers so obtained were converted into their cationomers by the treatment of triethylamine. The block copolymers and their cationomers have been characterized by FTIR, FTNMR, TGA, and DSC studies. The effect of thermal energy on the molecular weight of the macroiniferter in the absence of monomer has been studied in order to understand the mechanism of formation of the block copolymers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1237–1244, 1997     

Polymeric surfactants in latex technology: polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers as stabilizers in emulsion polymerization

Polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide) PS–PEO di- and triblock copolymers have been used as stabilizers in the emulsion polymerization of styrene and styrene–butylacrylate for the preparation of “hairy latexes”. The polymerization kinetics and the efficiency of these polymeric surfactants were correlated with the molecular characteristics of the block copolymer. It was shown that the efficiency decreased with increasing molecular weight and PS content of the block copolymer. The PEO frige, with a thickness of 4–25 nm, on the latex particle surface could be characterized and it was shown by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) that water is strucured in that PEO layer. Film formation with “hairy latexes” was also examined both by DSC and thermomechanical analysis. The properties and application possibilities, such as in controlled latex flocculation, have been reviewed.     

Studies on the Cure Reaction and Relationship between Network Structure/Thermal Properties of Styrene Copolymers Based on Adypic/Sebacic Acid Modified Unsaturated (Epoxy) Polyesters

The studies on the relationship between network structure/thermal properties of styrene copolymers based on adypic/sebacic acid modified unsaturated (epoxy) polyesters cured using different hardeners as well as the course of the cure reaction of polyesters with styrene have been presented. The adypic/sebacic acid modified unsaturated polyesters (UP) prepared from 4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride (THPA), maleic anhydride (MA), adypic acid (AA) or sebacic acid (SA) and ethylene glycol (EG) and their epoxy derivatives: adypic/sebacic acid modified unsaturated epoxy polyesters (UEP) were subjected to the cure process with styrene using diacyl peroxide: benzoyl peroxide (BPO) or the mixture of BPO/suitable acid anhydride: 4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride (THPA) or glutaric anhydride (GA). Thermal properties were evaluated by means of DSC, TG and DMA analyses. It was proved that studied properties were significantly depended on polyester's structure and the type of applied curing system. Generally, higher values of E'_20°C, tgδ_max, E”, ν_e, IDT, T_k for styrene copolymers based on UEP were obtained. It was connected with more cross-linked polymer network structure due to the possible copolymerization reaction of carbon-carbon double bonds of polyester with styrene and additional polyaddition of epoxy to anhydride groups or thermal curing of epoxy groups. The additional connections between polyester's chains led to obtain more stiff and thermal stable polymeric materials. Moreover, the increase of saturated aliphatic acid's chain length in polyester backbone caused the decrease of E'_20°C, tgδ_max, E”, ν_e, IDT, T_k values of styrene copolymers. It suggested that copolymers based on polyesters prepared from acid containing more methylene groups in their structure were characterized by more flexible polymer network due to the “laxity” effect of aliphatic chains.     

Living free radical donor-acceptor copolymerization of styrene and N-cyclohexylmaleimide and the synthesis of poly[styrene-co-(N-cyclohexylmaleimide)]/polystyrene block copolymers

Styrene/N-cyclohexylmaleimide copolymers with small polydispersities and controlled molecular weights were synthesized by a free radical copolymerization using an iniferter system consisting of benzoyl peroxide and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl. Due to the interactions of the electropositive (styrene) and electronegative (N-cyclohexylmaleimide) monomers the brutto polymerization rates are higher than for other living polymerizations initiated with the same iniferter system. The prepared copolymers were used as macroiniferters for bulk polymerization of styrene.     

Surface tension of random copolymer melts

A mean-field theory is presented to describe the surface tension and interfacial profile of random A-B multiblock copolymer melts in contact with air or a solid substrate. The copolymer model accounts for variations in average composition and block sequence distribution, and reduces to a model for statistical copolymers as the block size approaches that of a monomer. Ideal copolymers lacking chemical correlations between successive segments are predicted to have a larger surface tension than “blocky” copolymers with a tendency for repeated segments of A or B. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Alternating,gradient, block,and block–gradient copolymers of ethylene and norbornene by Pd–Diimine‐Catalyzed “living” copolymerization

We demonstrate, in this article, the facile synthesis of a broad class of low‐polydispersity ethylene–norbornene (E–NB) copolymers having various controllable comonomer composition distributions, including gradient, alternating, diblock, triblock, and block–gradient, through “living”/quasiliving E–NB copolymerization facilitated with a single Pd – diimine catalyst ( 1 ). This synthesis benefits from two remarkable features of catalyst 1 , its high capability in NB incorporation and high versatility in rendering E–NB “living” copolymerization at various NB feed concentrations ([NB]₀) while under an ethylene pressure of 1 atm and at 15 °C. At higher [NB]₀ values between 0.42 and 0.64 M, E–NB copolymerization with 1 renders nearly perfect alternating copolymers. At lower [NB]₀ values (0.11–0.22 M), gradient copolymers yield due to gradual reduction in NB concentration, with the starting chain end containing primarily alternating segments and the finishing end being hyperbranched polyethylene segments. Through two‐stage or three‐stage “living” copolymerization with sequential NB feeding, diblock or triblock copolymers containing gradient block(s) have been designed. This work thus greatly expands the family of E–NB copolymers. All the copolymers have controllable molecular weight and relatively low polydispersity (with polydispersity index below 1.20). Most notably, some of the gradient and block–gradient copolymers have been found to exhibit the characteristic broad glass transitions as a result of their possession of broad composition distribution. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Molecular design of multicomponent polymer systems. VII. Emulsifying effect of poly(ethylene–b–styrene) copolymer in high-density polyethylene/polystyrene blends

Poly(butadiene–b–styrene) copolymers containing a pure, 1,4-PB block have been synthesized by a “living” coordination process. The complete hydrogenation of the PB chain leads accordingly to a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) block. The emulsifying efficiency of such a copolymer (H-7) in HDPE/PS blends is compared with that of a previously reported poly(ethylene–butene–b–styrene) copolymer (SE-7) obtained by the PB hydrogenation of an anionically prepared PB–b–PS. Microscopy examinations demonstrate unambiguously the interfacial activity of both copolymers in HDPE/PS blends. The tensile mechanical properties of the blends are significantly but also differently modified by the two emulsifiers. The copolymer H-7 gives rise to the highest strengths, but, contrary to the copolymer SE-7, provides a poor ductility to the blends. This different behavior is assumed to result in part from the different characteristics of the hydrogenated PB blocks. The elastomeric HPB chain of SE-7 should form at the interface a more or less extended soft zone whereas a rigid interface would result from the cocrystallization of the HPB chain of H-7 with the HDPE homopolymer.     

Surface properties of styrene–ethylene oxide block copolymers

Hydrophobic–hydrophilic block copolymers were prepared by “living” anionic polymerization. They consist of polystyrene and poly(ethylene oxide) blocks, and are soluble in water. Their interfacial properties were investigated, employing aqueous solutions. The block copolymers lowered the surface tension of water in analogy with the low molecular weight surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and heptaethylene oxide n-dodecyl ether. Their aqueous solutions exhibited solubilization properties differing from those of polyethylene glycol. Therefore, it is thought that the polystyrene blocks produce solubilization phenomena. In samples of the same styrene content, the precipitation temperature of a high molecular weight copolymer in water was lower than that of a low molecular weight copolymer at the same concentration in the same solvent. The surface tension and precipitation temperature of aqueous solutions seem to be influenced by molecular weight and composition.     

Macrothiuram disulfide for the free radical synthesis of PDMS-vinyl triblock copolymers. I. Syntheses and polymerization kinetics

PDMS-based macrothiuram disulfides of different molecular weights capable of being used as macro-thermal iniferters towards deriving PDMS-containing triblock copolymers were synthesized and characterized. The synthesis of ω-(secondary amine)-terminated PDMS were accomplished by the hydrosilylation reaction of silyl hydride terminated PDMS with allyl-N-methylamine. Macroamines were eventually transformed to macroiniferters by the thiocarbamylation reaction and oxidative coupling. Kinetics of polymerization studied in the case of MMA and styrene in bulk, and as in toluene solution in case of MMA, revealed that the macroiniferters are as efficient as their microanalogues from the point of view of their initiating and chain-terminating properties. The different kinetic parameters were determined and discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Multiblock copolymers of styrene and isoprene. I. Synthesis and characterization

An anionic polymerization procedure for preparing multiblock copolymers of styrene and isoprene is described. The process is based on the initial specific incorporation of isoprene when mixtures of styrene and isoprene are polymerized with butyllithium in hydrocarbon solution. As examples, linear (AB)₃ block copolymers have been prepared by interrupting styrene polymerization by step additions of isoprene at times programmed according to the reactivity ratios and the rate constants for styrene and isoprene propagations. The products were characterized by means of osmometry, light scattering, gel-permeation chromatography, and density-gradient ultracentrifugation. The analyses showed that the multiblock copolymers are free from polymeric impurities and reasonably homogeneous in molecular weight and composition. The polystyrene segment lengths were analyzed by means of GPC after the oxidative degradation of the polyisoprene moieties in the copolymers. The results suggest that the polyisoprene blocks contain a nonnegligible amount of styrene but that this monomer is incorporated as very short segments. On the other hand the polystyrene blocks produced at the end of the copolymerizations appear to have narrow molecular weight distributions.     

Transformation of “living” carbocationic and other polymerizations to controlled/“living” radical polymerization

Transformation of “living” carbocationic polymerization of styrene and isobutene to controlled atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is described and formation of the corresponding AB and ABA block copolymers with styrene (St), methyl methacrylate (MMA, methyl acrylate (MA) and isobornyl acrylate (IBA) was demonstrated. A similar approach was applied to the cationic ring opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran leading to the AB and ABA block copolymers with St, MMA and MA using ATRP. Site transformation approach was also used for the ring opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene and polycondensation systems using polysulfone as an example. In both cases, AB and ABA block copolymers were efficiently formed with styrene and acrylates.     

Synthesis of well-defined ABC triblock copolymers with polypeptide segments by ATRP and click reactions

Well-defined ABC block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) monomethylene ether (MPEO) as A block, poly(styrene) (PS) as B block and poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) (PBLG) as C block were synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click reactions. The bromine-terminated diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide) monomethylene ether-block-poly(styrene) (MPEO-PS-Br) was prepared by ATRP of styrene initiated with macro-initiator MPEO-Br, which was prepared from the esterification of MPEO and 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, and converted into the azido-terminated diblock copolymer MPEO-PS-N₃ by simple nucleophilic substitutions in DMF in the presence of sodium azide. Propargyl-terminated PBLGs were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of γ-benzyl-l-glutamate-N-carboxyanhydride in DMF at room temperature using propargyl amine as an initiator. ABC triblock copolymers MPEO-PS-PBLG with a wide range of number-average molecular weights from 1.55 to 3.75 × 10⁴ and a narrow polydispersity from 1.07 to 1.10 were synthesized via the click reaction of MPEO-PS-N₃ and the propargyl-terminated PBLG in the presence of CuBr and 1,1,4,7,7-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst system. The structures of these ABC block copolymers and corresponding precursors were characterized by NMR, IR and GPC. The results showed that click reaction was efficient. Therefore, a facile approach was offered to synthesize ABC triblock copolymers composed of crystallizable polymer MPEO, conventional vinylic polymer PS and rod-like α-helix polypeptide PBLG.     

Solution behavior of styrene–ethylene oxide block copolymers

Hydrophobic–hydrophilic water-soluble block copolymers were prepared by “living” anionic polymerization. They consist of a polystyrene block and a polyethylene oxide block. From data on solution viscosity and high-resolution NMR in water, the molecular dimensions of the two-blocks copolymers are found similar to that of polyethylene glycols of the same molecular weight in the same solvent. These block copolymers exhibit microphase separation.