Living anionic polymerization of lauryl methacrylate and synthesis of block copolymers with methyl methacrylate

Anionic polymerization of lauryl methacrylate (LMA) with 1,1‐diphenylhexyl lithium in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?40 °C resulted in a multimodal and broad molecular weight distribution (MWD) with poor initiator efficiency. In the presence of additives such as dilithium salt of triethylene glycol (G₃Li₂), LiCl, and LiClO₄, the polymerization resulted in polymers with a narrow MWD (≤ 1.10). Diblock copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and LMA were synthesized by anionic polymerization using DPHLi as initiator in THF at ?40 °C with the sequential addition of monomers. The molecular weight distribution of the polymers was narrow and without homopolymer contamination when LMA was added to living PMMA chain ends. Diblock copolymers with broad/bimodal MWD were obtained with a reverse‐sequence monomer addition. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 875–882, 2004     

Mass spectrometry of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). As a catalyst copper(I)thiocyanate (CuSCN) was used with N-n-pentyl-2-pyridylmethanimine as a ligand. Infrared spectroscopy and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to characterize the synthesized polymers. From this it was clear that at least to some extent thiocyanate was present as end groups of the PMMA chains. This observation is discussed in view of a phenomenon called halogen exchange, which has been reported before for bromine/chlorine exchange in ATRP.     

Synthesis of hyperbranched-linear star block copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene using hyperbranched poly(siloxysilane) (HBPS) macroinitiator

Hyperbranched-linear star block copolymers, hyperbranched poly(siloxysilane)-block-polystyrene (HBPS-b-PSt), were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene in xylene, using bromoester-terminated HBPS (HBPS-Br (P3), M_n = 7500, M_w/M_n = 1.76) as a macroinitiator. The number-average molecular weights of the obtained polymers (M_n) were in the range of 21,800-60,000 and molecular weight distributions were unimodal throughout the reaction (M_w/M_n = 1.28-1.40). These polymers showed 5 wt.% decomposition temperature (T_d5) over 300 °C. The DSC thermograms of the resulting polymers indicated two glass transition temperatures (T_g). The T_g of HBPS segment shifted to higher value while the T_g of PSt segment shifted to lower value compared with those of the homopolymers. Preliminary physical characterization related to the solution viscosity of the resulting block copolymers is also reported.     

Amphiphilic cationic block copolymers via controlled free radical polymerization

N-oxyl terminated vinylbenzyl chloride macromonomers, available via controlled free radical polymerization, were used to synthesize AB-block copolymers of vinylbenzyl chloride and styrene with low polydispersity and different block lengths and block length ratios. The vinylbenzyl chloride blocks were quantitatively converted into cationic polyelectrolytes by reactions with tertiary amines. The micellization of the synthesized amphiphilic cationic block copolymers was investigated using different techniques such as static light scattering, ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography.     

Controlled/“living” atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the synthesis of triblock copolymers from a poly(oxyethylene) macroinitiator

Atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by a poly(oxyethylene) macroinitiator by the esterification of PEG 1500 with 2-chloro propionyl chloride was synthesized. These polymerization proceeds both in bulk and solution with a quantitative initiation efficiency, leading to A-B-A triblock copolymers. The macroinitiators and their block copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, FT-NMR and GPC analyses. In bulk polymerization, the kinetic study showed that the relationship between ln[M]₀/[M] vs time was linear showing that there is a constant concentration of active species throughout the polymerization and follow the first order kinetics with respect to monomer. Moreover, the experimental molecular weight of the block copolymers increased linearly with the monomer conversion and the polydispersity index remained between 1.3 and 1.5 throughout the polymerization. No formation of homo poly(methyl methacrylate) could also be detected, and all this confirms that the bulk polymerization proceeds in a controlled/“living” manner.     

Polycarbonate-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers: Synthesis and characterization

The interfacial copolymerization of bisphenol A polycarbonate, bisphenol A-terminated poly-(methyl methacrylate), and bisphenol A bischloroformate is described. Monofunctional hydroxy-terminated poly(methyl methacrylates) were synthesized by the chain transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate with 2-mercaptoethanol. Further reaction with bisphenol A bischloroformate yielded monofunctional bisphenol A-terminated poly(methyl methacrylates). The structure and functionality of these polymers were proven by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (PNMR) spectroscopy. Block copolymers prepared by the interfacial copolymerization were washed with methanol and extracted with acetone to remove unreacted bisphenol A bischloroformate and bisphenol A-terminated poly(methyl methacrylates). The series of block copolymers, which contained from 0.11 to 0.86 mole fraction polycarbonate, were characterized by infrared, PNMR, and molecular weight analysis.     

Homo and block copolymers of tert-butyl methacrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) was investigated using cuprous bromide with different ligands, solvents, deactivators, etc. The polymerization in bulk and diphenyl ether solvent system performed using Cu(I)Br complexed with N, N, N′, N″, N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst in conjunction with 2-bromopropionitrile as an initiator at room temperature showed a curvature in the first-order kinetic plot. The controlled polymerization in methanol solution resulted in slower rate of polymerization and lower molecular weights. Well-defined diblock copolymers of PSt-b-PtBMA synthesized by polystyrene bromo macroinitiator (PSt-Br) with Cu(I)Cl/PMDETA catalyst system yielded predetermined molecular weights and lower polydispersities. Otherwise, the Cu(I)Br/PMDETA catalytic system showed an inefficient polymerization of tert-butyl methacrylate with lower molecular weights and higher polydispersities. Subsequent hydrolysis of the homopolymer refluxed in dioxane with addition of HCl afforded well-defined poly(methacrylic acid).     

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-kaolinite nanocomposites prepared by interfacial polymerization with redox initiator system

Interfacial intercalative polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was developed to prepare PMMA-kaolinite nanocomposites using a redox initiator system, based on dodecylamine as reductant, immobilized into kaolinite by successive intercalation while the oxidant component of the redox system (K₂S₂O₈) was applied from aqueous phase. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to prove the functionalization of the clay with the amine before starting the polymerization reaction. The progress of the polymerization reaction through the involvement of the amine in the initiation process was confirmed not only by successfully performing the reaction at 50 °C, a temperature at which the K₂S₂O₈ cannot start the polymerization alone, but also by the enhancement of polymerization rate and drop in activation energy required to start the polymerization. The produced PMMA/kaolinite nanocomposites were examined by XRD and transmission electron microscope as well; both confirmed the defoliation of the kaolinite layers into homogeneously distributed platelets within the polymer phase which supports the effectiveness of the redox initiation in the intercalative polymerization. Furthermore, more explanation about the interfacial structure of the nanocomposites was given using Fourier transform infrared. The thermal gravimetric analysis revealed a very similar behavior above 300 °C with respect to the pure PMMA prepared under the same reaction conditions while in the range from 220 °C to 320 °C, the degradation was earlier in the case of the nanocomposites due to the presence of the dodecylamine; on the other hand, the glass transition temperatures were increased remarkably as assigned by differential scanning calorimetry in comparison with the pure PMMA.     

Thermal properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization

Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of potassium persulfate initiator, taken in several different concentrations, at various pH values was studied with the aim to obtain colloidal crystals. The thermal properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization, as the starting material for fabrication of photonic crystals, were examined in relation to the synthesis conditions.     

Ruthenium carborane complexes in the controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

New initiators based on closo-and exo-nido-ruthenacarboranes with phosphine and diphosphine ligands were proposed as chain growth regulators. They allow conducting the controlled synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) under radical initiation conditions. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 85–89, January, 2006.     

Stereoregularity of poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by aqueous polymerization and catalyzed by corundum

The aqueous polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in the absence and in presence of corundum or carborundum at 25 and 80°C. In the absence of corundum and carborundum, it has been found that rising the polymerization temperature from 25 to 80°C resulted in changing the tacticity of the obtained polymers. At 25°C the isotactic triad was 26% while the heterotactic triad was 33.5% and the syndiotactic one was 40.5%. Increasing the polymerization temperature to 80°C resulted in a decrease of the isotactic structure to 0% and increased the heterotactic structure and syndiotactic structure to 48 and 52% respectively. Polymerizing at 25°C in presence of corundum (0.5 g) an increase in the syndiotactic triad took place from 40.5 to 50.7% while the isotactic triad decreased from 26 to 22.2% and the heterotactic structure decreased from 33.5 to 27%. Raising the polymerization temperature to 80°C in the presence of the same amount of corundum resulted in an increase in both the isotactic and heterotactic triads to 35 and 32.7%, respectively. Polymerizing at 80°C in presence of corundum (0.5 g) resulted in nearly an equal percentage of each triad 33%.     

Poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) core-shell particles prepared by seeded precipitation polymerization: Unusual morphology and thermo-sensitivity of zeta potential

Poly（methyl methacrylate）/poly（N-isopropylacrylamide） （PMMA/PNIPAM） core-shell particles were synthesized by seeded precipitation polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide （NIPAM） in the presence of PMMA seed particles. The anionic potassium persulfate was used as initiator, and acrylic acid as functional comonomer. It was shown that the weight ratio of the PNIPAM shell to the PMMA core can be greatly increased through continuous addition of NIPAM monomer at a relatively slow rate. PMMA/PNIPAM particles with different shell thickness were obtained by varying the amount of charged NIPAM monomers. These particles exhibited unique nonspherical core-shell morphology. PMMA core was partially coated by dense hair-like or antler-like PNIPAM shell depending on the shell thickness. The measurement of these particles＇ zeta potential at different temperatures showed that the absolute value of zeta potential unusually decreased as the particle size decreased with temperature.     

One‐step synthesis of hyperbranched polyethylene macroinitiator and its block copolymers with methyl methacrylate or styrene via ATRP

Block copolymers of hyperbranched polyethylene (PE) and linear polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with hyperbranched PE macroinitiators. The PE macroinitiators were synthesized through a “living” polymerization of ethylene catalyzed with a Pd‐diimine catalyst and end‐capped with 4‐chloromethyl styrene as a chain quenching agent in one step. The macroinitiator and block copolymer samples were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. The hyperbranched PE chains had narrow molecular weight distribution and contained a single terminal benzyl chloride per chain. Both hyperbranched PE and linear PS or PMMA blocks had well‐controlled molecular weights. Slow initiation was observed in ATRP because of steric effect of hyperbranched structures, resulting in slightly broad polydispersity index in the block copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3024–3032, 2010     

Synthesis of coil‐comb block copolymers containing polystyrene coil and poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains via atom transfer radical polymerization

A series of polystyrene‐b‐(poly(2‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy) styrene)‐g‐poly(methyl methacrylate)) (PS‐b‐(PBPS‐g‐PMMA)) and polystyrene‐b‐(poly(2‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(methyl methacrylate)) (PS‐b‐(PBPEA‐g‐PMMA)) as new coil‐comb block copolymers (CCBCPs) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The linear diblock copolymer polystyrene‐b‐poly(4‐acetoxystyrene) and polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)ethyl acrylate) PS‐b‐P(HEA‐TMS) were obtained by combining ATRP and activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP. Secondary bromide‐initiating sites for ATRP were introduced by liberation of hydroxyl groups via deprotection and subsequent esterification reaction with 2‐bromopropionyl bromide. Grafting of PMMA onto either the PBPS block or the PBPEA block via ATRP yielded the desired PS‐b‐(PBPS‐g‐PMMA) or PS‐b‐(PBPEA‐g‐PMMA). ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography data indicated the target CCBCPs were successfully synthesized. Preliminary investigation on selected CCBCPs suggests that they can form ordered nanostructures via microphase separation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2971–2983     

Synthesis of crown ether-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate) by radical chain transfer polymerization

Mercapto-16-crown-5 was prepared starting from tetraethyleneglycol and 3-chloro-2-chloromethyl-1-propene. Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of mercapto-16-crown-5 as a chain transfer agent to give crown ether-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate). The end crown group was characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. Sodium cation was selectively extracted by this crown-containing polymer. The molecular weight of the obtained polymer had influence upon the ability of extraction of sodium cation.     

Direct synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers, consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) blocks through atom transfer radical polymerization

Amphiphilic block copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (SSNa) were successfully synthesized via direct atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of SSNa. First, poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (PSSNa) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) macroinitiators were prepared using proper ATRP systems for each case. In some cases, functional initiators, which allow further reactions, were used. The macroinitiators were characterized and further used to synthesize PSSNa/PMMA block copolymers, by using proper solvent combinations, such as N,N-dimethylformamide/water or methanol/water at appropriate volume ratios, in order to ensure solubility of the synthesized amphiphilic copolymers. The molecular weight of the copolymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography, using water as eluent. By using a combination of analytical techniques like ¹H NMR, FTIR and thermogravimetry, the chemical structure and the actual copolymer composition were determined. Since, the block copolymers were soluble in water, forming hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains in aqueous solution, their micellization behavior was further studied by pyrene fluorescence probing.     

Photoresponsive poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐azodendron block copolymers prepared by ATRP and click chemistry

A range of block copolymers (BCs) consisting of a linear poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) block linked to an aliphatic polyester dendron functionalized with azobenzene moieties have been synthesized by sequential atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and Click Chemistry. Two alkyne‐functionalized PMMA homopolymers with different molecular weights were obtained by ATRP and coupled to generations 2 to 4 of azodendrons bearing an azide group at the focal points. In the case of the azodendron with the highest generation number, the length of the flexible spacer attaching the cyanoazobenzene units to the dendron has also been modified. The coupling of both blocks and purity of BCs were checked by gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. The thermal transitions and liquid crystalline behavior of the BCs were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized‐light optical microscopy. A morphological study was carried out by transmission electron microscopy, using samples annealed at 115 °C. Photo‐induced anisotropy was induced in thin films of these materials after annealed at 115 °C. The highest stable birefringence values were obtained for the BCs bearing 8 and 16 azobenzene units in the dendritic block. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1538–1550, 2010     

Anomalous viscosity behavior of some poly(methyl methacrylate)s prepared by anionic polymerization

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate)s with molecular weights in the range 3.0 × 10⁴–1.03 × 10⁶ have been prepared by anionic polymerization and their limiting viscosity numbers determined in a variety of solvents. It was found that whereas the higher-molecular-weight polymers behaved normally, the lower-molecular-weight polymers showed anomalous behavior. First, the limiting viscosity numbers of the lower-molecular-weight polymers were much higher than expected, and, second, their number-average molecular weights as measured by gel permeation chromatography were considerably smaller than those determined by membrane osmometry.