Fe‐mediated ICAR ATRP of styrene and acrylonitrile in polyethylene glycol

In this contribution, random copolymers of p(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) via initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) (ICAR ATRP) of styrene and acrylonitrile (SAN) were synthesized at 90°C in low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG‐400) using CCl₄ as initiator, FeCl₃·6H₂O as catalyst, succinic acid as ligand and thermal radical initiator azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as thermal free radical initiator. In this system, well‐defined copolymer of SAN was achieved. The kinetics results showed that the copolymerization rate obeyed first‐order kinetics model with respect to the monomer concentration, and a linear increase of the molecular weights with the increasing of monomer conversion with narrow molecular weight distribution was observed in the range of 1.1–1.5. The conversion decreased with increasing the amount of FeCl₃·6H₂O and increased with increasing the molar ratio of [St]₀/[AN]₀/[CCl₄]₀ and temperature. AIBN has a profound effect on the polymerization. The activation energy was 55.67 kJ mol^?1. The living character of copolymerization was confirmed by chain extension experiment. The resultant random copolymer was characterized by ¹H‐NMR and GPC. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40135.     

Preparation of hyperbranched copolymers of maleimide inimer and styrene by ATRP

Novel hyperbranched copolymers were prepared by the atom transfer radical copolymerization of N-(4-α-bromobutyryloxy phenyl) maleimide (BBPMI) with styrene in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) using the complex of CuBr/2,2′-bipyridine as catalyst. The copolymerization behavior was investigated by comparison of the conversion of double bond of BBPMI determined by ¹H NMR with that of styrene. The hyperbranched structure of resulting copolymers was verified by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS). The influences of dosage of catalyst and monomer ratio on the polymerization rate and structure of the resulting polymers were also investigated. The glass transition temperature of the resulting hyperbranched copolymer increases with increasing mole fraction of BBPMI, f_BBPMI. The resulting copolymers exhibit improved solubility in organic solvents; however, they show lower thermal stabilities than their linear analogues.     

Novel ionic liquids as reaction medium for ATRP of acrylonitrile in the absence of any ligand

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of acrylonitrile (AN) with ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as the initiator was firstly approached in the absence of any ligand in three novel ionic liquids, 1-methylimidazolium acetate ([mim][AT]), 1-methylimidazolium valerate ([mim][VT]) and 1-methylimidazolium caproate ([mim][CT]), respectively. All the polymerizations in the ionic liquids proceeded in a well-controlled manner. The polymerization in [mim][AT] not only showed the best control of molecular weight and its distribution but also provided a rather rapid reaction rate with the molar ratio of [AN]:[FeBr₂]:[EBiB] at 200:2:1. The resulting polyacrylonitrile was successfully used as the macroinitiator to proceed the chain extension polymerization in [mim][AT]. After simple purification, all the ionic liquids and FeBr₂ could be recycled and reused and had no effect on the living nature of polymerization.     

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.     

One-pot synthesis of star polymer by ATRP of bismaleimide and an excess of styrene with a conventional initiator

A pragmatic one-pot approach to the synthesis of star polymers is reported using atom transfer radical copolymerization (ATRcP) of a bismaleimide and an excess of styrene (St) initiated with a conventional ATRP initiator.     

Block and star block copolymers by mechanism transformation. VIII Synthesis and characterization of triblock poly(LLA-b-St-b-MMA) by combination of ATRP and ROP

Block copolymers, poly(LLA-b-St)s and triblock copolymes, poly(LLA-b-St-b-MMA)s have been synthesized by the combination of the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with ring-opening polymerization (ROP) using bifunctional initiator β-hydroxylethyl α-bromoisobutyrate (HEBIB) without intermediate function transformation. The molecular weight (MW) and the molecular weight distribution (MWD) can be controlled. The structures of the copolymers were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and GPC.     

Polymerization of styrene and cyclization to macrocyclic polystyrene in a one-pot,two-step sequence

Dibrominated polystyrene (BrPStBr) was produced by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) at 80 °C, using the bifunctional initiator benzal bromide to afford the telechelic precursor. The ATRP reaction was stopped around 40% monomer conversion and directly converted into an radical trap-assisted atom transfer radical coupling (RTA-ATRC) reaction by lowering the temperature to 50 °C, and adding the radical trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) along with additional catalyst, reducing agent, and ligand to match ATRC-type reaction conditions. In an attempt to induce intramolecular coupling, rather than solely intermolecular coupling and elongation, the total reaction volume was increased by the addition of varying amounts of THF. Cyclization, along with intermolecular coupling and elongation, occurred in all cases, with the extent of ring closure a function of the total reaction volume. The cyclic portion of the coupled product was found to have a 〈G〉 value around 0.8 by GPC analysis, consistent with the reduction in hydrodynamic volume of a cyclic polymer compared to its linear analog. Analysis of the sequence by ¹H NMR confirmed that propagation was suppressed nearly completely during the RTA-ATRC phase, with percent monomer conversion remaining constant after the ATRP phase.     

Acrylic ABA triblock copolymer bearing pendant reactive bicycloalkenyl functionality via ATRP and tuning its properties using thiol-ene chemistry

This investigation reports the preparation of tailor-made ABA triblock copolymers (BCP) of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (PEHA) and dicyclopentenyloxyethyl methacrylate (PDCPMA) bearing pendant reactive cycloalkenyl functionality via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and thiol-ene modification of the pendant reactive bicycloalkenyl functionality. The chemical structure and molar composition of the polymers were determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and molecular weights of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. AFM as well as DSC analysis showed nanophase-separated morphology in the block copolymers. The pendant reactive bicycloalkenyl group of PDCPMA in the BCPs was successfully modified by thiol-ene reaction and the mechanical properties of the modified BCPs were studied. The thiol modified BCP showed much greater adhesion strength compared to pristine BCP as determined by lap shear test using a UTM. Hardness of the BCP film and UV-cured thiolated BCP film was studied and compared by using a nanoindenter.     

Alkylation of polyethyleneimine for homogeneous ligands in ATRP

Ethylated and butylated polyethyleneimine ligands were synthesized and employed in copper catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate with suitable initiators in order to obtain homogeneous polymerizations, resulting in well defined polymers with low polydispersities. Linear curves drawn from kinetics and conversion-molecular weight plots indicate that all the polymerizations were successfully controlled. In ATRP reactions of S and MMA, the apparent rate of polymerization, k_p^app, exhibits a plateau at [Ligand]/[CuBr] ≥ 0.5 ratio for both ligands. The apparent rate constant also decreases by increasing the alkyl chain length of the alkylated polyethyleneimine ligand. Ethylated and butylated polyethyleneimine ligands in ATRP of S and MMA were found to be faster than the existing ATRP ligands.     

Novel main-chain polyrotaxanes synthesized via ATRP of HEMA initiated with polypseudorotaxanes comprising BriB-PEG-iBBr and α-CDs

A novel strategy for the preparation of main-chain polyrotaxanes with lengthily tunable PHEMA as outer bulky stoppers was described in the present study. Polypseudorotaxanes made from the self-assemblies of a distal 2-bromoisobutyryl end-capped PEG with a varying amount of α-CDs in aqueous media were used as macroinitiators in situ to initiate the ATRP of HEMA catalyzed by Cu(I)Br/PMDETA at room temperature. The resulting polyrotaxanes were characterized in virtue of ¹H NMR, GPC, FTIR, XRD and DSC analyses. It demonstrated that the target polyrotaxanes were successfully synthesized and both the in-chained number of HEMA and the threaded number of α-CDs were adjustable to some extent. As the active Br groups held at two terminals and combining the unique properties of general polyrotaxanes with that of block copolymers, these supramolecular polymers show the potential as macroinitiators used for new ATRP polymerizations.     

Synthesis of ABA triblock copolymer of poly(potassium acrylate-styrene-potassium acrylate) by atom transfer radical polymerization and the self-assembly in selective solvents

A series of well-defined ABA triblock copolymers of poly(methyl acrylate)-polystyrene-poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA-b-PS-b-PMA) with different molecular weights were synthesized using Cl-PS-Cl as macroinitiator, CuCl/N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as catalyst system via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(potassium acrylate)-polystyrene-poly(potassium acrylate) (PKAA-b-PS-b-PKAA) was obtained by hydrolyzing PMA-b-PS-b-PMA. The self-assembly behavior of the triblock copolymers in organic solutions, which is a good solvent for the PS block and in aqueous solutions, which is a good solvent for the PKAA blocks was studied by high performance particle sizer (HPPS). The results showed that the Z-average size of the micelles obviously increases with increase in molecular weight of triblock copolymers, and the micelles in organic solutions are relatively more stable than in aqueous solutions. The effect of the length of PS block on the Z-average size of the micelles is more obvious in organic solution than in aqueous solution. The morphology of triblock copolymers PKAA-b-PS-b-PKAA in aqueous solution, which is a nearly ‘pearl-necklace’-like shape, was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at room temperature.     

Studies on the kinetics and mechanism of the copolymerization of acrylonitrile with styrene in the presence of zinc chloride

Radical copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with styrene (Sty), using x,x′-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator, was carried out in the presence of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) dilatometrically at 65/pm 0.1 C for 120min. The rate of polymerization was a direct function of the concentrations of ZnCl₂, AN and Sty, and polymerization temperature. The viscosity-average molecular weight of the copolymer increased with ZnCl₂ concentration. The energy of activation in the presence and absence of the complex was evaluated as 82.5 kJ mol^?1 and 115.5 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The copolymerization of AN with Sty proceeded via the radical-complex mechanism.     

ATRP of acrylonitrile catalyzed by FeCl2/succinic acid under microwave irradiation

A single‐pot atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) under microwave irradiation was first used to successfully synthesize polyacrylonitrile. This was achieved by using FeCl₂/succinic acid as the catalyst and 2‐chloropropionitrile as the initiator. Using the same experimental conditions, the apparent rate constant under microwave irradiation was found to be higher than that under conventional heating. The FeCl₂/succinic acid ratio of 1 : 2 not only gives the best control of molecular weight and its distribution but also provides rather rapid reaction rate. When FeCl₂ was replaced with CuCl, ATRP of AN does not show an obvious living characteristics. To demonstrate the active nature of the polymer chain end, the polymers were used as macroinitiators to proceed the chain‐extension polymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1598–1601, 2006     

The amphiphilic block copolymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate: Synthesis by atom transfer radical polymerization and solution properties

Amphiphilic di- and tri-block copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) have been synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) at ambient temperature (35 °C) in the environment-friendly solvent, aqueous ethanol (water 16 vol%) using CuCl/o-phenanthroline as the catalyst. The PDMAEMA blocks are contaminated with ethyl methacrylate (EMA) residues to the extent of 1-2 mol% of DMAEMA depending on the length of the PDMAEMA block. The EMA forms through the autocatalyzed ethanolysis of the DMAEMA monomer and undergoes random copolymerization with the latter. The rate of ethanolysis is unexpectedly greater in the aqueous ethanol than in neat ethanol, which has been attributed to the higher polarity of the former than of the latter. In contrast to the ethanolysis no hydrolysis of DMAEMA in the aqueous ethanol medium could be detected for 133 h. The block copolymers form micelles in water. Their solubility and CMC in neutral water have been studied. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies reveal that for a fixed degree of polymerization (DP) of the PMMA block the hydrodynamic diameter of the micelles in methanolic water (water 95 vol%) increases at a faster rate with the DP of the PDMAEMA block when it is much greater than that of the PMMA block compared to when it is less than or close to that of the latter.     

Effect of acrylonitrile water solubility on the suspension copolymerization of acrylonitrile and styrene

Effect of acrylonitrile water solubility on the suspension polymerization of acrylonitile and styrene was investigated. It was found that the copolymer composition produced in the suspension polymerization of acrylonitrile and styrene was significantly different from that in the bulk polymerization at the same monomer feed ratio, since acrylonitrile is partially soluble in water. To predict accurately and then control the copolymer composition in the suspension polymerization, a model to calculate the copolymer composition was proposed based on considering the phase partition of actylonitrile between monomer and aqueous phases. The results calculated by the model are in agreement with the experimental data. The real reactivity ratios in monomer phase used in the model are the same as that in the bulk polymerization, but the apparent reactivity ratios used in the classical theory for the suspension polymerization vary significantly with water/oil ratio. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4270–4274, 2006     

Thermal polymerization of styrene in the presence of TEMPO

To investigate aspects of the contribution of (thermal) self-initiation in nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) of styrene, selective styrene polymerizations with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) in the absence of initiator were carried out at 120 and 130 °C. The results of these experiments (including conversion data, molecular weight averages, polydispersity and molecular weight distribution information) were compared with regular thermal polymerization of styrene and NMRP of styrene in the presence of a bimolecular initiator (benzoyl peroxide; BPO). It was observed that although the thermal polymerization of styrene can be controlled to some extent in the presence of TEMPO to provide polystyrene with low polydispersity, the polymerization was never as controlled as that obtained by a BPO-initiated NMRP.     

Octadecyl acrylate - Methyl methacrylate block and gradient copolymers from ATRP: Comb-like stabilizers for the preparation of micro- and nano-particles of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(acrylonitrile) by non-aqueous dispersion polymerization

Three random and three block copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and octadecyl acrylate (ODA) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. These copolymers were assessed for their application as stabilizers in the one-step non-aqueous dispersion (NAD) polymerization of MMA and of acrylonitrile (AN) in a non-polar solvent mixture of hexane and dodecane. In all cases stable spherical micro-particle colloidal dispersions were formed with particle diameters in the range of 62-2725 nm for PMMA. Uniform monodisperse PMMA particles with standard deviations in size distributions of less than 5% were obtained in two cases demonstrating the utility of ODA:MMA copolymers as replacement preformed stabilizers in the one-step synthesis of MMA micro-spheres. Overall the block copolymer PMMA₆₄-block-PODA₃₆ gave greater control over size when varying the solvent:monomer ration than a related gradient PMMA-PODA copolymer. These copolymers were further used as stabilizers in the one-step NAD polymerization of MMA with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) under similar conditions allowing for the preparation of monodisperse cross-linked PMMA particles with diameters ranging from 110 to 1700 nm. The general utility of the copolymers as stabilizers was demonstrated by the NAD polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) in non-polar solvent mixture of hexane and dodecane giving ‘crumpled’ latex dispersions with particle diameters in the range 85-483 nm.     

Comparison of thermomechanical properties of statistical, gradient and block copolymers of isobornyl acrylate and n-butyl acrylate with various acrylate homopolymers

Well-defined statistical, gradient and block copolymers consisting of isobornyl acrylate (IBA) and n-butyl acrylate (nBA) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). To investigate structure-property correlation, copolymers were prepared with systematically varied molecular weights and compositions. Thermomechanical properties of synthesized materials were analyzed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Glass transition temperature (T_g) of the resulting statistical poly(isobornyl acrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate) (P(IBA-co-nBA)) copolymers was tuned by changing the monomer feed. This way, it was possible to generate materials which can mimic thermal behavior of several homopolymers, such as poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) and poly(n-propyl acrylate) (PPA). Although statistical copolymers had the same thermal properties as their homopolymer equivalents, DMA measurements revealed that they are much softer materials. While statistical copolymers showed a single T_g, block copolymers showed two T_gs and DSC thermogram for the gradient copolymer indicated a single, but very broad, glass transition. The mechanical properties of block and gradient copolymers were compared to the statistical copolymers with the same IBA/nBA composition.     

A new strategy for the one-step synthesis of block copolymers through simultaneous free radical and ring opening polymerizations using a dual-functional initiator

Block copolymers are fascinating and complex materials that have been used in a range of diverse scientific and technological capacities. We demonstrate that a single one-step approach based on dual simultaneous polymerizations is a viable technique for the synthesis of a wide range of block copolymers by combining two dissimilar polymerization systems and using a dual-functional initiator. The main advantage of this methodology is that a simple, one-step, and simultaneous polymerization occurs in the bulk, which makes this process very attractive from both industrial and academic points of view. We plan to study the reaction kinetics and evaluate how well the ring opening catalyst [in this case, Sn(oct)₂] works under reverse ATRP conditions.     

An all ATRP route to PMMA-PEO-PS and PMAA-PEO-PS miktoarm ABC star terpolymer

An all Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) route to synthesize miktoarm ABC star terpolymer, μ-(poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene) (μ-(PMMA-PEO-PS)), was demonstrated. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with a halide end group was first prepared by ATRP of MMA. It was then activated under ATRP conditions at 30 °C to add a styrenic-terminated PEO macromonomer, resulting in the formation of PMMA-b-PEO. Finally, the active halide at the junction point of the diblock copolymer was used to initiate the ATRP of St at higher temperature. By a similar approach, μ-(poly(phenyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene) (μ-(PhMA-PEO-PS)) was synthesized, hydrolysis of which in basic medium gave μ-(PMAA-PEO-PS). The polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography.