Telechelic polymers by living and controlled/living polymerization methods

Telechelic polymers, defined as macromolecules that contain two reactive end groups, are used as cross-linkers, chain extenders, and important building blocks for various macromolecular structures, including block and graft copolymers, star, hyperbranched or dendritic polymers. This review article describes the general techniques for the preparation of telechelic polymers by living and controlled/living polymerization methods; namely atom transfer radical polymerization, nitroxide mediated radical polymerization, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, iniferters, iodine transfer polymerization, cobalt mediated radical polymerization, organotellurium-, organostibine-, organobismuthine-mediated living radical polymerization, living anionic polymerization, living cationic polymerization, and ring opening metathesis polymerization. The efficient click reactions for the synthesis of telechelic polymers are also presented.     

Solution self‐assembly of tailor‐made macromolecular building blocks prepared by controlled radical polymerization techniques

This review describes the preparation of colloidal aggregates (spherical micelles, cylindrical micelles, polymer vesicles, multicompartment micelles, polyion complexes, schizophrenic micelles) using bottom‐up self‐assembly approaches. In particular, it focuses primarily on the self‐organization of well‐defined macromolecular building blocks (macrosurfactants, polysoaps, polyelectrolytes) synthesized by controlled radical polymerization techniques such as atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization and nitroxide‐mediated polymerization. The goal of this review is to highlight that these versatile techniques of polymer synthesis allow the preparation of unprecedented nanostructures in dilute solutions. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polymer vectors via controlled/living radical polymerization for gene delivery

The design of efficient gene delivery vectors is a challenging task in gene therapy. Recent progress in living/controlled radical polymerizations (LRPs), in particular atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization providing a means for the design and synthesis of new polymeric gene vectors with well-defined compositions, architectures and functionalities is reviewed here. Polymeric gene vectors with different architectures, including homopolymers, block copolymers, graft copolymers, and star-shaped polymers, are conveniently prepared via ATRP and RAFT polymerization. The corresponding synthesis strategies are described in detail. The recent research activities indicate that ATRP and RAFT polymerization have become essential tools for the design and synthesis of advanced, noble and novel gene carriers.     

Synthesis and properties of novel macromolecular coupling agents prepared by ATRP

Novel block and graft macromolecular coupling agents with well‐defined structures have been synthesized successfully by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of those functional copolymers can be controlled because of the living/controlled ATRP. The structures and composition of block and graft copolymers with the monomers of butyl acrylate (BA), styrene (St), and 3‐methacryloxyl‐propyltrimethoxyl silicon (KH‐570) have been characterized by mean of ¹H NMR, IR, GPC, and UV. Because the KH‐570 of macromolecular coupling agents owns strong affinity to surface hydroxyl of fillers, inorganic fillers that were treated by the macromolecular coupling agents possess some new properties, for example increasing the effect between matrix and fillers of composites. The mechanical properties and morphology of composites with macromolecular coupling agents have been investigated by the dynamic mechanical spectra and SEM. The results showed that the damping value and compatibility of composites with macromolecular coupling agents were improved greatly when compared with that of composite with small molecular coupling agent. Furthermore with different contents of BA, St, and KH‐570 in the macromolecular coupling agents, the damping value of the composites are different. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3919–3926, 2006     

原子转移自由基偶联法合成星形聚合物

以卤端基聚合物为大分子引发剂,卤化亚铜／２,２‘＝二联二吡啶为催化剂,工业二乙烯基苯、纯间－二乙烯基苯、纯对－二乙烯基苯为偶联剂合成了一系列星形聚合物。研究了偶联反应的影响因素。结果表明,反应体系产生凝胶的趋势随着二乙烯基苯与预聚物配比的增加而增加;偶联反应速度随着反应物总浓度的增加而加大;提高反应温度有利于提高偶联效率;以低单体转化率下合成的预聚物为大分子引发剂时的偶联效率高于高单体转化率下合成     

原子转移自由基乳液聚合研究进展

原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)作为一种可控/活性聚合方法,可对聚合物结构进行精确控制;乳液聚合以水作为分散介质,具有经济、环保等特点。因此,乳液ATRP结合了两者的优点,具有工业化生产的潜力。首先分析了影响乳液ATRP的各种因素,然后综述了正向ATRP、RATRP(反向ATRP)、SR&NI ATRP(正向/反向同时进行的ATRP)和AGET ATRP(电子转移活化剂ATRP)等机制及研究进展,最后对乳液ATRP的发展方向进行了展望。     

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP): A versatile and forceful tool for functional membranes

The progress in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) provides an effective means for the design and preparation of functional membranes. Polymeric membranes with different macromolecular architectures applied in fuel cells, including block and graft copolymers are conveniently prepared via ATRP. Moreover, ATRP has also been widely used to introduce functionality onto the membrane surface to enhance its use in specific applications, such as antifouling, stimuli-responsive, adsorption function and pervaporation. In this review, the recent design and synthesis of advanced functional membranes via the ATRP technique are discussed in detail and their especial advantages are highlighted by selected examples extract the principles for preparation or modification of membranes using the ATRP methodology.     

Organometallic mediated radical polymerization

Controlled radical polymerization has become increasingly important over the past decade and a half, allowing for the facile synthesis of specific macromolecular architectures with excellent control over the chemical and physical properties. This article presents an organized and detailed review of one particular CRP technique, organometallic mediated radical polymerization (OMRP), focusing on the individual catalysts developed, their efficacy and monomer scope. Rhodium, cobalt, molybdenum, osmium, iron, palladium, titanium, chromium and vanadium mediated radical polymerizations are presented alongside organo-main group mediated reactions. A separate section reviews the types of copolymers which have been synthesized using OMRP techniques. An attempt is made to unify the many disparate names which have previously been used for OMRP by virtue of the common mechanistic aspects displayed by the different catalyst systems. A mechanistic discussion highlights the similarities and differences between these systems and examines the interplay between reversible termination and degenerative transfer OMRP and competing 1-electron redox processes.     

One pot,two step sequence converting atom transfer radical polymerization directly to radical trap-assisted atom transfer radical coupling

Monobrominated polystyrene (PStBr) chains were prepared using standard atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) procedures at 80 °C in THF, with monomer conversions allowed to proceed to approximately 40%. At this time, additional copper catalyst, reducing agent, and ligand were added to the unpurified reaction mixture, and the reaction was allowed to proceed at 50 °C in an atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) phase. During this phase, polymerization continued to occur as well as coupling; expected due to the substantial amount of residual monomer remaining. This was confirmed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), which showed increases in molecular weight not matching a simple doubling of the PStBr formed during ATRP, and an increase in monomer conversion after the second phase. When the radical trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) was added to the ATRC phase, no further monomer conversion occurred and the resulting product showed a doubling of peak molecular weight (M_p), consistent with a radical trap-assisted ATRC (RTA-ATRC) reaction.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene using a copper catalyst with a pseudohalogen anion

Atom transfer radical polymerization has been a very useful method in the recent advances in controlled radical polymerization. It needs an activated alkyl halide as an initiator and a copper halide as a catalyst. This investigation reports the successful application of copper thiocyanate, a catalyst with a pseudohalide anion, in the presence of different ligands such as N,N,N=,N″,N?,N?‐hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (HMTETA), pentyl‐2‐pyridylmethaneimine, and substituted bipyridine in the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene. Among the three ligands used, HMTETA was found to be very efficient. The polymers were characterized with ¹³C‐NMR, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1418–1426, 2005     

Photomediated controlled radical polymerization

Photomediated controlled radical polymerization is a versatile method to prepare, under mild conditions, various well-defined polymers with complex architecture, such as block and graft copolymers, sequence-controlled polymers, or hybrid materials via surface-initiated polymerization. It also provides opportunity to manipulate the reaction through spatiotemporal control. This review presents a comprehensive account of the fundamentals and applications of various photomediated CRP techniques, including atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) and other procedures. In addition, mechanistic aspects of other photomediated methods are discussed.     

Post‐polymerization modification by nitroxide radical coupling

Post‐polymerization modification is an attractive approach to extend applications and convert commodity plastics into products with new, desirable and tunable properties. Among the post‐polymerization modification methods, the nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reaction has been shown to be a convenient and versatile way to graft specific functionalities onto polymer chains and to control the onset and yield of polymer crosslinking during peroxide‐initiated processes. The use of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) and its derivatives as controllers of scorch in crosslinking and as functionalizers in functionalization reactions is thoroughly described. Examples are also given of graft polymerization from macroalkoxyamines generated by NRC and grafting of nitroxides by irradiation processes. In addition, in this review we attempt to demonstrate the broad applications of the NRC reaction in the preparation of polymers with a multitude of functionalities and elaborate architectures. The examples discussed here concern the use of atom transfer and single electron transfer NRC reactions to design a variety of polymers with asymmetrical structure and the use of the radical crossover reaction, based on the alkoxyamine dynamic covalent bond, to generate reversible polymer structures and switchable functional polymers. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

丙烯腈嵌段共聚物的合成及其自组装研究进展

综述了含聚丙烯腈(PAN)嵌段共聚物的合成方法及其在溶液中的自组装技术。对常用的活性自由基聚合方法,如原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)、可逆加成断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合、氮氧自由基聚合(NMP)以及钴调介自由基聚合(CMRP)等方面的研究进行了总结,同时对PAN类嵌段共聚物在溶液中的自组装技术进行了概括。最后提出了现有技术存在的问题,并对其今后发展方向进行了展望。     

Modeling and theoretical development in controlled radical polymerization

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) systems have gained increasing interests for the past two decades. Numerous publications may be found in the literature reporting experimental and modeling work on various CRP processes, including their use in surface modification through grafting. Knowledge of underlying mechanism behind polymerization systems is valuable for product design and process optimization. This information may be obtained through the combination of modeling and experimental studies. In this review, published studies on kinetic and stochastic based modeling for CRP systems are summarized. Their relevance in model discrimination of proposed mechanisms is discussed. This review also includes various parameter estimation studies, that is crucial to obtain accurate simulation predictions. Existing issues on the fundamental mechanism in CRP processes are also addressed.     

Synthesis of polyacrylonitrile via reverse atom transfer radical polymerization initiated by 1,1,2,2‐tetraphenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol/FeCl3/triphenylphosphine

FeCl₃ coordinated by triphenylphosphine was first used as the catalyst in the 1,1,2,2‐tetraphenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol‐initiated reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of acrylonitrile. A FeCl₃/triphenylphosphine ratio of 0.5 not only gave the best control of the molecular weight and its distribution but also provided a rather rapid reaction rate. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing polymerization temperature, and the apparent activation energy was calculated to be 62.4 kJ/mol. When FeCl₃ was replaced with CuCl₂, the reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of acrylonitrile did not show prominent living characteristics. To demonstrate the active nature of the polymer chain end, the polymers were used as macroinitiators to advance the chain‐extension polymerization in the presence of a CuCl/2,2′‐bipyridine catalyst system via a conventional atom transfer radical polymerization process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 4041–4045, 2007     

Styrene/tetradecyl methyl acrylate/3‐methacryloxylpropyl trimethoxyl silane triblock copolymers: Atom transfer radical polymerization synthesis and effects on the glass‐fiber/polypropylene interphase properties as a macromolecular coupling agent

Styrene/tetradecyl methyl acrylate/3‐methacryloxylpropyl trimethoxyl silane triblock copolymers (PSTKs), with well‐defined structures and narrow molecular weight distributions, were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. They were investigated as macromolecular coupling agents for the surface treatment of glass fibers. The reaction kinetics for the triblock copolymers were studied. The contact angles of the copolymers with water and diiodomethane showed that a modified‐glass‐fiber surface treated with a PSTK solution had strong hydrophobicity and that the impregnation of polypropylene on glass fibers was improved dramatically. In comparison with a film of 3‐methacryloxylpropyl trimethoxyl silane, the polarity of the surface free energy of a PSTK film decreased, whereas the dispersion increased greatly. The critical concentration of the macromolecular coupling agents was obtained, and the monolayer saturated adsorptive capacity was calculated with the Gibbs absorption isotherm equation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1661–1670, 2007     

Atom transfer radical bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate under microwave irradiation

Microwave irradiation (MI) was applied to the atom transfer radical bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The influence of the amount of the refluxing solvent used for controlling the polymerization temperature, irradiation power, irradiation time, and initiator concentration on the conversion, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of the polymers was studied with a benzyl chloride/cuprous chloride/2,2′‐bipyridyl initiation system and compared with the corresponding conventional heating (CH) process. In comparison with CH, the results can be summarized as follows. The polymerization rate for reaching 70% conversion increased 2.6–5.1 times under an irradiation power of 270–630 W. The apparent increasing rate constant was much larger than that with CH and increased with the irradiation power. MI produced a higher polymerization rate and conversion even if the concentration of the initiation system was very low (initial monomer concentration/initial initiator concentration = 200:0.33 mol/mol) and the polydispersity index (DI) was narrower; however, CH yielded almost no polymers. MI promoted the activities of the catalyst and monomer, and its initiation efficiency was higher than that with CH and increased with the irradiation power. MI obviously played an important role in promoting the polymerization rate of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). MI reduced the concentration of the initiation system and perhaps made ATRP controlled (cf. uncontrolled ATRP with CH); at the same time, it made the DI values of the polymers narrower. In comparison with the initiation efficiencies found with benzyl bromide and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile used as initiators, the initiation efficiency with p‐toluene sulfonyl chloride used as an initiator was higher; moreover, DI was much narrower (1.17), and the polymerization rate was greater. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1787–1793, 2003     

活性自由基乳液聚合的研究进展

活性自由基乳液聚合是一个非常新的研究领域。介绍了目前活性自由基乳液聚合领域的3种常用的方法及应用这些方法进行乳液聚合的研究进展,包括:原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP),氮氧调节自由基聚合(NMP)和可逆加成-断裂链转移自由基聚合(RAFT)。     

端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯及聚丙烯酸异辛酯-氨酯的制备及表征

采用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)合成了分子量与设计分子量(2000)大小相符的聚丙烯酸异辛酯,再以N-甲基单乙醇胺作为亲核试剂,对活性端基溴进行亲核取代,得到了分子量可控、分子量分布较窄的线型端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯。以此为原料与甲苯二异氰酸酯(TDI)反应,制备得到了聚丙烯酸异辛酯-氨酯。利用核磁共振谱(1HNMR)、差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、热重示差扫描量热仪(TGA)对合成的端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯及聚丙烯酸酯异辛酯-氨酯的结构、热稳定性等进行了表征。结果表明,利用端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯成功地制备了聚丙烯酸异辛酯-氨酯,由凝胶渗透色谱仪(GPC)测得其分子量为10200,玻璃化转变温度为-54℃,是一种新型的丙烯酸酯与聚氨酯的共聚物。     

Living/controlled radical autopolymerization of styrene in the presence of CuCl2 and 2,2′‐bipyridine

The bulk autopolymerization of styrene (St) was successfully conducted in the presence of CuCl₂ and 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) at 110 and 130°C. We found that this polymerization was a living/controlled radical polymerization at a [St]₀/[CuCl₂]₀/[bpy]₀ ratio of 54:1:2.5. The resulting number‐average molecular weights linearly increased with conversion, and the polydispersity indices were very narrow (<1.5). The polymerization rate increased with temperature. Increasing the ratios (i.e., 129:1:2.5, 259:1:2.5, and 386:1:2.5) led to a decrease in the ability to control the autopolymerization of St, even uncontrolled polymerization (i.e., 643:1:2.5). The analysis of end groups by ¹H‐NMR indicated that the spontaneous generation of radicals from St were generated by a Mayo‐type process, and this living/controlled radical polymerization might have underwent a reverse atom‐transfer radical polymerization process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1532–1538, 2003