Biodegradable and stimuli sensitive amphiphilic graft copolymers and their sol–gel phase transition behavior

pH and temperature‐sensitive biodegradable poly(β‐aminoester)‐graft‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PBAE‐g‐PCL‐b‐mPEG) amphiphilic graft copolymers with different molecular weights were synthesized. The structure of these copolymers was adjusted by varying the feed ratios of ε‐caprolactone to methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s (mPEG), amine and diacrylate monomer amounts and the molecular weight of mPEG. Aqueous solutions of these copolymers formed micelles at lower concentrations; however, the concentrated solutions showed a reversible sol–gel transition property depending on both pH and temperature changes under representative physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37°C). The effects of the molecular weight of pH‐sensitive poly(β‐aminoester) block and mPEG group, the hydrophobic to hydrophilic block ratio (PCL/mPEG) and the concentration of the copolymer on the sol–gel transition were investigated. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography measurements were used to characterize the structure of the synthesized copolymers. The self‐assemble behavior and critical micelle concentration of the amphiphilic copolymers were estimated in phosphate buffer solution using fluorescence spectroscopy. The gelling behavior was measured by using tube inversion method. At pH 7.4, all copolymer solutions prepared 20 wt% concentration indicated sol–gel transition with increasing temperature. In vitro degradation experiments displayed that the synthesized graft copolymers mostly degraded hydrolytically within 20 days under physiological conditions. In order to investigate the potential application of synthesized hydrogels in drug delivery, Methylene Blue was used and approximately 70% of the loaded amount was released in 120 hr. The findings indicate that obtained graft copolymers can be used as injectable biodegradable carriers for pharmaceutical drugs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,self‐assembly,and thermosensitive properties of ethyl cellulose‐g‐P(PEGMA) amphiphilic copolymers

Ethyl cellulose graft poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (EC‐g‐P(PEGMA)) amphiphilic copolymers were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. Reaction kinetics analysis indicated that the graft copolymerization is living and controllable. The self‐assembly and thermosensitive property of the obtained EC‐g‐P(PEGMA) amphiphilic copolymers in water were investigated by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and transmittance. It was found that the EC‐g‐P(PEGMA) amphiphilic copolymers can self‐assemble into spherical micelles in water. The size of the micelles increases with the increase of the side chain length. The spherical micelles show thermosensitive properties with a lower critical solution temperature around 65 °C, which almost independent on the graft density and the length of the side chains. The obtained EC‐g‐P(PEGMA) graft copolymers have both the unique properties of poly(ethylene glycol) and cellulose, which may have the potential applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 46: 6907–6915, 2008     

Synthesis,characterization, and micellization of PCL‐g‐PEG copolymers by combination of ROP and “Click” chemistry via “Graft onto” method

Biodegradable and biocompatible PCL‐g‐PEG amphiphilic graft copolymers were prepared by combination of ROP and “click” chemistry via “graft onto” method under mild conditions. First, chloro‐functionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL‐Cl) was synthesized by the ring‐opening copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) and α‐chloro‐ε‐caprolactone (CCL) employing scandium triflate as high‐efficient catalyst with near 100% monomer conversion. Second, the chloro groups of PCL‐Cl were quantitatively converted into azide form by NaN₃. Finally, copper(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition reaction was carried out between azide‐functionalized PCL (PCL‐N₃) and alkyne‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (A‐PEG) to give PCL‐g‐PEG amphiphilic graft copolymers. The composition and the graft architecture of the copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, and GPC analyses. These amphiphilic graft copolymers could self‐assemble into sphere‐like aggregates in aqueous solution with diverse diameters, which decreased with the increasing of grafting density. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of well‐defined pH‐responsive PPEGMEA‐g‐P2VP double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate) (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) side chains were synthesized by successive single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained homopolymer then reacted with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐chloropropionyl chloride at ?78 °C to afford PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator. poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) double hydrophilic graft copolymers were finally synthesized by. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine initiated by PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalytic system via the grafting‐ from strategy. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept relatively narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.40). pH‐Responsive micellization behavior was investigated by ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy and this kind of double hydrophilic graft copolymer aggregated to form micelles with P2VP‐core while pH of the aqueous solution was above 5.0. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Amphiphilic PEG‐grafted poly(ester‐carbonate)s: Synthesis and diverse nanostructures in water

Novel biodegradable amphiphilic graft copolymers containing hydrophobic poly(ester‐carbonate) backbone and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains were synthesized by a combination of ring‐opening polymerization and “click” chemistry. First, the ring‐opening copolymerization of 5,5‐dibromomethyl trimethylene carbonate (DBTC) and ε‐caprolactone (CL) was performed in the presence of stannous octanoate [Sn(Oct)₂] as catalyst, resulting in poly(DBTC‐co‐CL) with pendant bromo groups. Then the pendant bromo groups were completely converted into azide form, which permitted “click” reaction with alkyne‐terminated PEG by Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions to give amphiphilic biodegradable graft copolymers. The graft copolymers were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectra and gel permeation chromatography measurements, which confirmed the well‐defined graft architecture. These copolymers could self‐assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. The size and morphologies of the copolymer micelles were measured by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, which are influenced by the length of PEG and grafting density. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.     

Synthesis of poly(styrene-graft-ethylene oxide) by ethoxylation of amide group containing styrene copolymers

Graft copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) side chains on a polystyrene backbone have been synthesized. Styrene copolymers synthesized by free radical mechanism and containing between 5 and 15 mol % acrylamide or methacrylamide were used as backbones. The amide groups in the copolymers were ionized by using potassium tert-butoxide or potassium naphthalene, and grafting was achieved by utilizing the amide anions as initiator sites for the polymerization of ethylene oxide in 2-ethoxyethyl ether at 65°C. The graft copolymers were characterized with respect to molecular weight and composition using elemental analysis, NMR, gel permeation chromatography, IR, and viscosity measurements. The size of the side chains were between 600 and 2000 g/mol. GPC results from a hydrolyzed graft copolymer sample suggest a narrow size distribution for the poly(ethylene oxide) grafts. Solution properties of the graft copolymers were investigated in different toluene/methanol mixtures. The intrinsic viscosities of the graft copolymers were found to depend primarily on the poly(ethylene oxide) content rather than the graft density or the poly(ethylene oxide) chain length. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of fluorine‐containing amphiphilic graft copolymer P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG)

A series of amphiphilic graft copolymers P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG) comprising poly(hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) (PHFMA) backbones and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains were synthesized by copolymerization of HFMA and SPEG macromonomer with the p‐vinylbenzyl end group. The SPEG macromonomer was synthesized by reacting Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) with p‐chloromethylstyrene in THF in the presence of NaH. The macromonomer and amphiphilic graft copolymer were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹⁹F NMR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the amphiphilic graft copolymer was measured by surface tension technique. The results showed that the CMC decreased with increasing HFMA contents in the graft copolymers. The interaction between P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The fluorescence spectrum showed that the fluorescence intensity of BSA increased with increasing content of HFMA in P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG) and concentration of P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG) in the P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG)/BSA solution. TEM micrographs showed that P(HFMA)‐g‐P(SPEG) mainly formed core‐shell structure micelles. When BSA was added, the micelles changed from a core‐shell structure into a worm‐like, vesicle‐like and hollow‐like structure with different initial concentrations of the copolymer. The size distribution of the micelles increased proving that the copolymer micelles encapsulated the bovine serum albumin. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4895–4907, 2009     

Thermoresponsive PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer synthesized by successive SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly[poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate] (PPEGEEMA) side chains were synthesized by the combination of single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained comb copolymer was treated with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. Finally, PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA graft copolymers were synthesized by ATRP of poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate macromonomer using PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator via the grafting‐from route. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.20). This kind of double hydrophilic copolymer was found to be stimuli‐responsive to both temperature and ion (0.3 M Cl^? and SO). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 647–655, 2010     

Synthesis and properties of poly(ethylene oxide)‐grafted polyethylene copolymer and terpolymer

A series of graft copolymers were synthesized based on ethylene‐co‐m,p‐methylstyrene (EMS) (backbone copolymer), ethylene‐1‐hexene‐m,p‐methylstyrene (EHMS) (backbone terpolymer), and polyethylene glycol monomethyl ethers (PEGM) (grafts) in this study. The PEGMs with molecular weights of 750 and 2000 were used. The chemical composition of the graft copolymers was analyzed by NMR and DSC measurements. The graft copolymers exhibited a phase‐separated morphology with the backbone and the methoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG) grafts forming separate crystalline phases. The MPEG phase had a melting temperature lower than the corresponding MPEG homopolymer, as determined by DSC. The melting point of the crystalline phase formed by the EMS and EHMS main chains was lower than that of pure polymer backbone. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of a novel graft copolymer with hyperbranched poly(glycerol) as core and “Y”‐shaped polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)2 as side chains

The graft copolymers composed of “Y”‐shaped polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)₂ (PS‐b‐PEO₂) as side chains and hyperbranched poly(glycerol) (HPG) as core were synthesized by a combination of “click” chemistry and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) via “graft from” and “graft onto” strategies. Firstly, macroinitiators HPG‐Br were obtained by esterification of hydroxyl groups on HPG with bromoisobutyryl bromide, and then by “graft from” strategy, graft copolymers HPG‐g‐(PS‐Br) were synthesized by ATRP of St and further HPG‐g‐(PS‐N₃) were prepared by azidation with NaN₃. Then, the precursors (Bz‐PEO)₂‐alkyne with a single alkyne group at the junction point and an inert benzyl group at each end was synthesized by sequentially ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of EO using 3‐[(1‐ethoxyethyl)‐ethoxyethyl]‐1,2‐propanediol (EEPD) and diphenylmethylpotassium (DPMK) as coinitiator, termination of living polymeric species by benzyl bromide, recovery of protected hydroxyl groups by HCl and modification by propargyl bromide. Finally, the “click” chemistry was conducted between HPG‐g‐(PS‐N₃) and (Bz‐PEO)₂‐alkyne in the presence of N,N,N′,N″,N”‐pentamethyl diethylenetriamine (PMDETA)/CuBr system by “graft onto” strategy, and the graft copolymers were characterized by SEC, ¹H NMR and FTIR in details. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic block–graft MPEG‐b‐(PαN3CL‐g‐alkyne) degradable copolymers by ring‐opening polymerization and click chemistry

A straightforward strategy is proposed for the synthesis of novel, amphiphilic block–graft MPEG‐b‐(PαN₃CL‐g‐alkyne) degradable copolymers. First, the ring‐opening polymerization of α‐chloro‐ε‐caprolactone (αClCL) was initiated by hydroxy‐terminated macroinitiator monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) with SnOct₂ as the catalyst. In a second step, pendent chlorides were converted into azides by the reaction with sodium azide. Finally, various kinds of terminal alkynes were reacted with pendent azides by copper‐catalyzed Huisgen's 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition, and thus a “click” reaction. These copolymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ¹H NMR, IR, and gel permeation chromatography. By fixing the length of the MPEG block and increasing the length of PαClCL (or PαN₃CL) block, an increase tendency in T_gs was observed. However, the copolymers of MPEG‐b‐PαClCL and MPEG‐b‐PαN₃CL were semicrystalline when the M_n of MPEG was above 2000 g mol^?1. The block–graft copolymers formed micelles in the aqueous phase with critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in the range of 1.4–12.0 mg L^?1 depending on the composition of polymers. The lengths of hydrophilic segment influence the shape of the micelle. The mean hydrodynamic diameters of the micelles from dynamic light scattering were in the range of 90–160 nm. In vitro hydrolytic degradation of block–graft copolymers is faster than the corresponding block copolymers. The drug entrapment efficiency and the drug loading content of micelles depending on the composition of block–graft polymers were described. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4320–4331, 2008     

Poly(vinyl chloride)–poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers: Synthesis and characterization

Poly(vinyl chloride)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers have been synthesized in solution and emulsion. The polymers were made by first synthesizing macroazonitriles through the reaction of 4,4′-azobis-4-cyanovleryl chloride with hydroxy-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) of varying molecular weights. These macroazonitriles had molecular weights in the range of 3000–88,000 and degrees of polymerization from 5 to 24. Thermal decomposition of the azolinkages in the presence of vinyl chloride monomer yielded block copolymers containing form 2 to 20 wt % poly(ethylene oxide). The structures of the block copolymers were characterized by spectrometric, elemental and molecular weight analyses. The possibility of some graft polymerization occurring via free-radical extraction of a methylene hydrogen from the poly(ethylene oxide) was considered. Polymerization of vinyl chloride with an azonitrile initiator in the presence of a poly(ethylene oxide) yielded predominately homopolymer with some grafted poly(vinyl chloride).     

Synthesis of amphiphilic block–graft copolymers [poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene)‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)] and their aggregation in water

Novel block–graft copolymers [poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene)‐g‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)] were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) with chloromethylated poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) (SEBS) as a macromolecular initiator. The copolymers were composed of triblock SEBS as the backbone and tBA as grafts attached to the polystyrene end blocks. The macromolecular initiator (chloromethylated SEBS) was prepared by successive hydrogenation and chloromethylation of SEBS. The degree of chloromethylation, ranging from 1.6 to 36.5 mol % according to the styrene units in SEBS, was attained with adjustments in the amount of SnCl₄ and the reaction time with a slight effect on the monodispersity of the starting material (SEBS). The ATRP mechanism of the copolymerization was supported by the kinetic data and the linear increase in the molecular weights of the products with conversion. The graft density was controlled with changes in the functionality of the chloromethylated SEBS. The average length of the graft chain, ranging from a few repeat units to about two hundred, was adjusted with changes in the reaction time and alterations in the initiator/catalyst/ligand molar ratio. Incomplete initiation was detected at a low conversion; moreover, for initiators with low functionality, sluggish initiation was overcome with suitable reaction conditions. The block–graft copolymers were hydrolyzed into amphiphilic ones containing poly(acrylic acid) grafts. The aggregation behavior of the amphiphilic copolymers was studied with dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, and the aggregates showed a variety of morphologies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1253–1266, 2002     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AMPHIPHILIC GRAFT COPOLYMER CONTAINING MICROPHASE SEPARATED AND LONG POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) SIDE CHAIN STRUCTURES**

Acryloyl terminated Poly (ethyleneoxide)macromonomers (PEO-A) with different PEO chain lengths have been prepared by deactivation of PEO alkoxide with acryloyl chloride. A new kind of amphiphilic polystyrene-g-poly (ethylene oxide)graft copolymer containing both microphase separated and PEO side chain structures has been synthesized from radical copolymerization of PEO-A macromonomer with styrene. After careful purification by a newly-developed method called "selective dissolution', the well-defined structure of the purified copolymers was confirmed by IR, ~1H-NMR and GPC. Various experimental parameters controlling the copolymerization were studied in detail. The results indicated that the feed ratio of styrene to macromonomer(S/M) was the most important determining factor for the composition of the copolymers. A detailed "comb- model" was proposed to describe the molecular structure of the graft copolymers. Finally, this amphiphilic graft copolymers may readily form microphase separated structures as clearly indicated by transmission electron microscopy.     

Successive SET‐LRP and ATRP synthesis of ferrocene‐based PPEGMEA‐g‐PAEFC well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer

A series of ferrocene‐based well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers, consisting of hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and hydrophobic poly(2‐acryloyloxyethyl ferrocenecarboxylate) (PAEFC) side chains were synthesized by successive single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was prepared by SET‐LRP of PEGMEA macromonomer, and it was then treated with lithium di‐isopropylamide and 2‐bromopropionyl bromide at ?78 °C to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. The targeted well‐defined graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.32) were synthesized via ATRP of AEFC initiated by PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator, and the molecular weights of the backbone and side chains were both controllable. The electro‐chemical behaviors of graft copolymers were studied by cyclic voltammetry, and it was found that graft copolymers were more difficult to be oxidized, and the reversibility of electrode process became less with raising the content of PAEFC segment. The effects of the preparation method, the length of hydrophobic PAEFC segment, and the initial water content on self‐assembly behavior of PPEGMEA‐g‐PAEFC graft copolymers in aqueous media were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The morphologies of micelles could transform from cylinders to spheres or rods with changing the preparation condition and the length of side chains. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Graft copolymers composed of high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) backbone and poly(N-isopropylacrlylamide) side chains and their thermoassociating properties

Novel, water-soluble thermoassociative graft copolymers based on high molecular weight (HMW) poly(ethylene oxide-co-glycidol) backbone and relatively short grafts of poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) were prepared. The copolymer precursors with two architectures (block and graft) were synthesized using Ca-amide-alkoxide initiators. The OH groups in the copolymer precursors have been utilized for grafting NIPAAm using ceric ion (Ce⁴⁺) redox initiation. The idea was to imprint the “smart” properties of PNIPAAm grafts into common HMW poly(ethylene oxide). The sensitive moieties undergo reversible association transitions by changing the temperature of dilute and semidilute aqueous solutions of the copolymers. Associative properties were studied by viscosity and rheology measurements. Two types of interactions, induced by heating, depending on the copolymer concentration namely intra- and intermolecular association were observed.     

Graft copolymers prepared by ethoxylation of polyamide 12 and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)

Graft copolymers consisting of polyamide 12 or poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) as backbone polymers and side chains of poly(ethylene oxide) have been synthesized. The amide and hydroxyl groups of the backbone polymers were used as initiation sites for the polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO). Potassium tert-butoxide was used for ionization of the active groups, and the polymerization of EO was carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide. The graft copolymers were characterized with respect to molecular weight and composition using elemental analysis, ¹H-NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and FTIR. The size of the side chains varied between 300 and 1000 g/mol. Thermal properties were examined by DSC. The graft copolymers showed increasing crystallinity and increasing melt temperature with increasing molecular weight of the side chains. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 803–811, 1998     

Synthesis of functional polyethylene graft copolymers by nitroxide‐mediated living radical polymerization

This paper describes a new method to prepare graft copolymers, such as polyethylene‐g‐polystyrene (PE‐g‐PS), with a relatively well‐controlled reaction mechanism. The chemistry involves a transformation process from the metallocene copolymerization of ethylene and m,p‐methylstyrene (m,p‐MS) to nitroxide‐mediated “living” free radical polymerization (LRFP) of styrene. The metallocene catalysis produces ethylene‐co‐m,p‐methylstyrene (EMS) random copolymers. Next, 1‐hydroxyl‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine (HO‐TEMPO) was synthesized by the reduction of TEMPO with sodium ascorbate. The macroinitiator (EMS‐TEMPO) was synthesized with the bromination reaction of EMS, and the following nucleofilic reaction with this functional nitroxyl compound. The resulting macroinitiator (EMS‐TEMPO) for LRFP was then heated in the presence of styrene to form graft copolymer. DSC, ¹H‐NMR, FTIR spectroscopy were employed to investigate the structure of the polymers. The results of Molau test showed that PE‐g‐PS could be a potential good compatilizer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ATNRC and SET‐NRC synthesis of PtBA‐g‐PEO well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers

A series of new well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers containing hydrophobic poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) backbone and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) side chains were reported. Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer homopolymerization of tert‐butyl 2‐((2‐bromopropanoyloxy)methyl)acrylate was first performed to afford a well‐defined backbone with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.07). The target poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PtBA‐g‐PEO) graft copolymers with low polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.18–1.26) were then synthesized by atom transfer nitroxide radical coupling or single electron transfer‐nitroxide radical coupling reaction using CuBr(Cu)/PMDETA as catalytic system. Fluorescence probe technique was employed to determine the critical micelle concentrations (cmc) of the obtained amphiphilic graft copolymers in aqueous media. Furthermore, PAA‐g‐PEO graft copolymers were obtained by selective acidic hydrolysis of hydrophobic PtBA backbone while PEO side chains kept inert. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Block copolymers prepared by emulsion polymerization with poly(ethylene oxide)–azo-initiators

Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(styrene) block copolymers were prepared in the form of latex particles by emulsion polymerization of styrene with poly(ethylene glycol)–azo-initiators as well as with the redox initiation system poly(ethylene glycol)/Ce⁴⁺. The emulsion polymerization can be carried out in the absence of additional stabilizers if the chain length of the poly(ethylene glycol) is greater than 40. The latex particles as well as the copolymers were characterized by capillary hydrodynamic fractionation, ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. By ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy a side reaction of the primary radicals arising from the azo-initiator was found which can contribute to the low efficiency of azo-initiators in emulsion polymerization.