The synthesis of novel,visible-wavelength oxidizable polymerization sensitizers based on the 5,12-dihydroquinoxalino[2,3-b]pyridopyrazine skeleton

Novel dyes based on the 5,12-dihydroquinoxalino[2,3-b]pyridopyrazine skeleton were synthesized and subsequently characterized using ¹H NMR. Their electrochemical and spectral properties, such as absorption and emission spectra, quantum yield of fluorescence, and quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation, were also measured. The dyes were useful as photoinitiators for sensitizing compounds to photooxidation. Photoredox pairs comprising dyes and onium salts were found to be effective visible-wavelength initiators of free radical or cationic polymerization.     

The synthesis of novel,visible-wavelength,oxidizable polymerization sensitizers based on the 8-halogeno-5,12-dihydroquinoxalino[2,3-b]quinoxaline skeleton

Novel dyes, based on the 8-halogeno-5,12-dihydroquinoxalino[2,3-b]quinoxaline skeleton, were synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. Their electrochemical and spectral properties, such as absorption and emission spectra, quantum yield of fluorescence and quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation, were also measured. These dyes were used as oxidizable sensitizers for diphenyliodonium and N-alkoxypyridinium salts. Photoredox pairs, consisting of dyes and pyridinium or iodonium salts, were found to be effective visible-wavelength initiators of free radical or cationic polymerization, respectively. The ability of each dye to act as a photoinitiator strongly depended upon its chemical structure. The heavy atoms present in the chemical structure could lead to excited triplet states within the dye, thereby facilitating electron transfer from these states.     

Synthesis of binary mixed homopolymer brushes by combining atom transfer radical polymerization and nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization

This communication describes a novel strategy to synthesize binary mixed homopolymer brushes from mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silica substrates by combining atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). Mixed SAMs terminated by ATRP and NMRP initiators were prepared by coadsorption of two corresponding organotrichlorosilanes from toluene solutions. Mixed poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/polystyrene (PS) brushes were synthesized by ATRP of MMA at 80 °C followed by NMRP of styrene at 115 °C. Corresponding ‘free’ initiators were added into the solutions to control the polymerizations. We have found that the brush thickness increases with molecular weight in a nearly linear fashion. For a series of binary brushes consisting of PMMA of molecular weight of 26,200 and PS of various molecular weights, we have observed a transition in water contact angles with increasing PS molecular weight after CH₂Cl₂ treatment. Moreover, binary mixed polymer brushes with comparable molecular weights for two grafted polymers undergo reorganization in response to environmental changes, exhibiting different wettabilities.     

Synthesis and characterization of star-like microgels by one-pot free radical polymerization

A one-pot free radical polymerization process was used to prepare methyl acrylate/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (MA/EGDMA) and methyl methacrylate/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (MMA/EGDMA) polymers. The role of monomer and crosslinker reactivity ratios in producing different network structures was demonstrated. While both systems produced branched polymers that exhibited low intrinsic viscosities with little variation across a wide range of molecular weights, the star-like microgels formed between a less reactive monomer (MA) with a more reactive crosslinker (EGDMA) gave lower bulk solution viscosities than the more statistical polymers formed between similarly reactive monomers and crosslinkers (MMA and EGDMA). This paper presented a simple and cost-effective synthetic route for the production of polymers with high molecular weight and low viscosity with considerable potential for industrial-scale processing.     

A novel ligand for atom transfer radical polymerization

A ligand is a crucial element for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A new nitrogen-containing compound, 1,1’-(2,2’-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(butyl azanediyl)) -bis(ethane-2,1-diyl)) dipyrrolidin-2-one (DBBD), was synthesized and utilized as the ligand of copper halide for ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA). It was found that the CuBr/DBBD and Ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBIB) system could mediate the polymerization of MMA and the reaction was first-order kinetics, although the control of molecular weights was not perfect. When CuCl was used to replace CuBr, the molecular weights of obtained polymers were well controlled, which indicated the halide exchange could improve the controllability. In the polymerization of MA using Methyl 2-bromopropronate (MBP) or EBIB as initiator and CuCl/DBBD as catalyst, good control of the polymerization could be achieved and the molecular weights were very close to the predicted value.     

Synthesis of asymmetric H-shaped block copolymer by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization

A new asymmetric H-shaped block copolymer (PS)₂-PEO-(PMMA)₂ has been designed and successfully synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization. The synthesized 2,2-dichloro acetate-ethylene glycol (DCAG) was used to initiate the polymerization of styrene by ATRP to yield a symmetric homopolymer (Cl-PS)₂-CHCOOCH₂CH₂OH with an active hydroxyl group. The chlorine was removed to yield the (PS)₂-CHCOOCH₂CH₂OH ((PS)₂-OH). The hydroxyl group of the (PS)₂-OH, which is an active species of the living anionic polymerization, was used to initiate ethylene oxide by living anionic polymerization via DPMK to yield (PS)₂-PEO-OH. The (PS)₂-PEO-OH was reacted with the 2,2-dichloro acetyl chloride to yield (PS)₂-PEO-OCCHCl₂ ((PS)₂-PEO-DCA). The asymmetric H-shaped block polymer (PS)₂-PEO-(PMMA)₂ was prepared via ATRP of MMA at 130 °C using (PS)₂-PEO-DCA as initiator and CuCl/bPy as the catalyst system. The architectures of the asymmetric H-shaped block copolymers, (PS)₂-PEO-(PMMA)₂, were confirmed by ¹H NMR, GPC and FT-IR.     

Diazobenzo[a]fluorene derivatives as visible photosensitizers for free radical polymerization

Several benzophenazine dyes containing a diazobenzo[a]fluorene moiety have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (CI MS). The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of these dyes were examined. These compounds were evaluated as potential light absorbing chromophores for free radical polymerization. The results are discussed on the basis of the free energy change for electron transfer from the diazobenzo[a]fluorene dyes to the electron donors/acceptors. The kinetic studies of the photoinitiated polymerization of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) using electron donors, such as phenylthioacetic acid, phenoxyacetic acid, N-phenylglycine and ethyl 4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoate, and electron acceptors, such as 1-methoxy-4-phenylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate and 1-ethoxy-2-methylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate, have shown that these dyes are efficient photoinitiators for free radical polymerization in visible light. The heavy atoms present in the chemical structure may lead to excited triplet states within the dye facilitating electron transfer from these states.     

Synthesis of 4-arms hydroxy-functionalized PMMA-b-PE through combining free radical polymerization with coordination polymerization

The copolymerization of MMA with ethylene was promoted by metallocene complex in the presence of initiator tetra(2,3-epoxy propoxy)silane (I_s), reducing agent Zn and cocatalyst MAO, combining free radical polymerization with coordination polymerization via sequential monomer addition strategy in one-pot to produce 4-arms hydroxy-functionalized PMMA-b-PE. The effects of polymerization conditions such as temperature, time, ethylene pressure and Al/Ti molar ratio on the polymerization performance were investigated. 4-Arms hydroxy-functionalized PMMA-b-PE was obtained by solvent extraction and determined by GPC, MALLS, DSC, FT-IR, WAXD and ¹H(¹³C) NMR. The DSC result indicated that the 4-arms hydroxy-functionalized PMMA-b-PE had one T_g at 87.0 °C and one T_m at 117.0 °C which attributed to T_g of PMMA segment and T_m of PE segment, respectively. The microstructure of 4-arms hydroxy-functionalized PMMA-b-PE was further confirmed by WAXD, FT-IR, and ¹³C NMR analysis. These results demonstrated that the obtained 4-arms block copolymer consisted of PMMA segment and crystalline PE segment.     

Magnetic field effects on the free radical solution polymerization of acrylamide

Systematic polymerization experiments quantified magnetic field (MF) influences on the free radical solution polymerization of acrylamide for various polymerization conditions. The type of initiation, the initiator concentration, the monomer concentration, and the viscosity of the aqueous medium were the subject of variation. The initiator efficiency (Φ) increased up to 60% and the initiator exponent of the overall rate expression raised from 0.1 to 0.28 when a weak MF of 0.1 T was applied to photochemical initiation. However, no appropriate effect was observed for thermal initiation. Kinetic analysis proved a reduction of the termination rate coefficient (k_t) up to 40%. Photochemically initiated polymerizations in media of enhanced viscosity revealed the highest increment of the initiator efficiency ratio Φ^MF/Φ and the most pronounced reduction of k_t^MF/k_t. On the contrary, the propagation rate coefficient (k_p) and the monomer exponent were not influenced by MF. Despite considerable increase of the polymerization rate in MF, no reduction of the molar mass was found. Compensation of increased Φ^MF and decreased k_t^MF are suggested as explanation. The singlet-triplet intersystem crossing mechanism for radical pairs served to explain the MF effects.     

Synthesis of symmetric H-shaped block copolymer by the combination of ATRP and living anionic polymerization

A novel fluorescent dye labeled H-shaped block copolymer, (PMMA-Fluor-PS)₂-PEO-(PS-Fluor-PMMA)₂, is synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and anionic polymerization (AP). To obtain the designated structure of the copolymer, a macroinitiator, 2,2-dichloro acetyl-PEO-2,2-dichloro acetyl (DCA-PEO-DCA), was prepared from DCAC and poly(ethylene oxide). The copolymer was characterized by ¹H NMR, GPC and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

An iron‐based reverse ATRP process for the living radical polymerization of acrylonitrile

A hexa‐substituted ethane thermal iniferter, diethyl‐2,3‐dicyano‐2,3‐di(p‐tolyl) succinate (DCDTS), was firstly used as the initiator in the reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) of acrylonitrile. FeCl₃ coordinated by isophthalic acid (IA) was used as the catalyst in this system. The polymerization in N,N‐dimethylformamide not only shows the best control of molecular weight and its distribution but also provides rather rapid reaction rate with the ratio of [AN] : [DCDTS] : [FeCl₃] : [IA] at 500 : 1 : 2 : 4. The polymers obtained were end‐functionalized by chlorine atom, and they were used as macroinitiators to proceed the chain extension polymerization in the presence of FeCl₂/IA catalyst system via a conventional ATRP process and polyacrylonitrile obtained was with M_n = 39,260, PDI = 1.25. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

原子转移自由基聚合合成支化聚丙烯腈

以二乙烯苯为支化单体,α-溴代异丁酸叔丁酯为引发剂,CuBr和2,2'-联吡啶为催化体系,利用本体和溶液原子转移自由基聚合合成了支化聚丙烯腈.采用核磁共振谱仪、凝胶渗透色谱仪和多角度激光光散射仪等测试了聚合物结构、相对分子质量及其分布.用无水乙酸钠对支化聚丙烯腈进行末端改性,得到了在硫氰酸钠水溶液中性能稳定、可长期保存的支化聚丙烯腈,而改性对聚合物的耐热性能没有影响.     

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched azobenzene-containing polymers via self-condensing atom transfer radical polymerization and copolymerization

We report on the synthesis of an azobenzene-containing inimer 6-{4-[4-(2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)hexyloxy)phenylazo]phenoxy}hexyl methacrylate (I) and used it to prepare hyperbranched homopolymer and copolymers by self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) and copolymerization (SCVCP) with its precursor 6-{4-[4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)phenylazo]phenoxy}hexyl methacrylate (M) using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Depending on the comonomer ratio, γ=[M]₀/[I]₀, branched polymethacrylates with number-average weights between 8000 and 20,000 and degree of branching (DB) between 0.08 and 0.49 were obtained by SCVCP, as evidenced by GPC and ¹H NMR analysis. In addition, the photochemical properties of the polymers were also studied by UV-vis spectra and found the structure of polymers affect obviously the trans-cis isomerization properties of the branched polymers.     

A novel amphiphilic AB2 star copolymer synthesized by the combination of ring-opening metathesis polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

A new amphiphilic AB₂ star copolymer was synthesized by the combination of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Two different routes (methods A and B) were employed firstly to prepare the poly(oxanorbornene)-based monotelechelic polymers as the hydrophobic arm bearing dibromo-ended group via ROMP in the presence of two different terminating agents catalyzed by first generation Grubbs catalyst. The values of capping efficiency (CE) of the polymers were determined by NMR, which were 94% and 67% for methods A and B, respectively. Then, the dibromo-ended ROMP polymers were used as the macroinitiators for ATRP of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) to produce two hydrophilic arms. The prepared amphiphilic AB₂ star copolymers poly(7-oxanorborn-5-ene-exo,exo-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester)-block-bis[poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] (PONBDM_n-b-(PDMAEMA_m)₂) with a fixed chain length of hydrophobic PONBDM and various hydrophilic PDMAEMA chain lengths can self-assemble spontaneously in water to form polymeric micelles, which were characterized by dynamic light scattering, atom force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy measurements.     

Synthesis of graft copolymers from a linear polyolefin through a combination of coordination polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

This article reports on a facile route for the preparation of methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate graft copolymers via a combination of catalytic olefin copolymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The chemistry first involved a transforming process from ethylene/allylbenzene copolymers to a polyolefin multifunctional macroinitiator with pendant sulfonyl chloride groups. The key to the success of the graft copolymerization was ascribed to a fast exchange rate between the dormant species and active radical species by optimization of the various experimental parameters. Polyolefin‐g‐poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyolefin‐g‐poly(methyl acrylate) graft copolymers with controlled architecture and various graft lengths were, thus, successfully prepared under dilute ATRP conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of A-B-A triblock copolymers derived from chloro-telechelic poly(l-lactide): combining ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)

Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide was combined with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to produce well-defined linear block copolymers. Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) was synthesized via ROP using ethylene glycol as an initiator and stannous octoate as a catalyst. The isolated hydroxy-telechelic PLLA was reacted with thionyl chloride and pyridine in toluene to afford chloro-telechelic PLLA (Cl-PLLA-Cl). The latter was employed as a macroinitiator in the synthesis of A-B-A triblock copolymers having either tert-butyl acrylate or benzyl acrylate outer blocks. Outer-block molecular weight was targeted by the mole ratio of monomer (acrylate) to the PLLA chloride initiating sites. The actual incorporation of acrylate into the triblock copolymer was lower than the molar feed ratio as the copolymer became increasingly less soluble upon conversion of acrylate in all cases.     

Effect of ferrocene moieties on the copper‐based atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate catalyzed by copper–tripodal complexes with ferrocene moieties (CuX/TRENFcImine, where X is Br or Cl, and TRENFcImine is tris‐[2‐(ferrocenylmethyleneimino)ethyl]amine) was investigated to understand the effect of redox active moieties on the performance of ATRP catalysts. The CuBr/TRENFcImine system was highly active, with 82% conversion in 2 h. However, the polymerization became slower at higher molar ratios of monomer to catalyst. The polydispersity index was broad, and the initiation efficiency was relatively low. On the basis of the conformational analysis, the highly active and less controlled polymerization was probably caused by the electronic effect rather than the steric effect on the ferrocene moieties, which led to the higher and lower values in the activation and deactivation steps, respectively. The polydispersity index was improved by the addition of CuBr₂, but this led to slower rates of polymerization. The effect of halide groups on ATRP caused a faster rate in the CuBr/TRENFcImine polymerization system than in the CuCl/TRENFcImine system. The higher molar ratio of monomer to catalyst had no significant effect on the CuCl/TRENFcImine system. Nonetheless, the trace of water in the CuCl₂·2H₂O system accelerated the rate of propagation, which led to a higher molecular weight. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

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。     

Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate on magnetite nanoparticles

The synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles coated with a well-defined graft polymer is reported. The magnetite nanoparticles with an initiator group for copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), 2-(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl) ethyltrichlorosilane (CTCS) chemically bound on their surfaces were prepared by the self-assembled monolayer-deposition method. The surface-initiated ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out with the CTCS-coated magnetite nanoparticles in the presence of free (sacrificing) initiator, p-toluenesulfonyl chloride. Polymerization proceeded in a living fashion, exhibiting first-order kinetics of monomer consumption and a proportional relationship between molecular weight of the graft polymer and monomer conversion, thus providing well-defined, low-polydispersity graft polymers with an approximate graft density of 0.7 chains/nm². The molecular weight and polydispersity of the graft polymer were nearly equal to those of the free polymer produced in the solution, meaning that the free polymer is a good measure of the characteristics of the graft polymer. The graft polymer possessed exceptionally high stability and remarkably improved dispersibility of the magnetite nanoparticles in organic solvent.