Online monitoring of the copolymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate with styrene by RAFT. Deviations from reaction control

Kinetics of copolymerization reactions of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) and styrene by reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) are reported. Novel approaches in the online monitoring of the synthesis of the amphiphilic copolymers by Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization reactions (ACOMP) are presented. Automatic withdrawal of separate reactor streams and their subsequent dilution throughout the reaction with organic and aqueous solvents, respectively, allowed different features to be captured. Thus, light scattering data combined with spectroscopic and viscometric measurements in DMF, together with conductivity measurements in aqueous medium provided in real time comonomer conversion, copolymer mass, reduced viscosity, and composition. Continuous data gathered allowed observing and quantifying the DMAEA-linked macroRAFT control agent decomposition, with significant effects on the reaction kinetics. Deviations from controlled behavior were investigated during (co)polymerization reactions under different conditions.Multi-detector Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and NMR were used to bring additional information on the system investigated.     

Automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization reactions (ACOMP)

A brief overview of the principles and associated instrumentation used to monitor polymerization reactions by automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization reactions (ACOMP) is presented. ACOMP can be used as an analytical method in R&D, as a tool for reaction optimization at the bench and pilot plant level and, eventually, for feedback control of full‐scale reactors. ACOMP measures in a model‐independent fashion the evolution of average molar mass and intrinsic viscosity, monomer conversion kinetics and, in the case of copolymers, also the average composition drift and distribution. A summary of areas of ACOMP application is given, which include free radical and controlled radical homo‐ and copolymerization, polyelectrolyte synthesis, heterogeneous phase reactions, including emulsion polymerization, adaptation to batch and continuous reactors, and modifications of polymers. Finally, a brief sketch of two novel complementary methods is given: automatic continuous mixing (ACM) and simultaneous multiple sample light scattering (SMSLS). Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Absolute online monitoring of acrylic acid polymerization and the effect of salt and pH on reaction kinetics

Using recently introduced Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization reactions (ACOMP), the kinetics of acrylic acid polymerization was studied. ACOMP yields the absolute weight‐averaged mass (M_w), monomer conversion, and other quantities. As the initiator concentration increased, it was shown that the rate increased and the M_w decreased as in regular free‐radical polymerization. The effect of salt on acrylic acid polymerization in an aqueous solution was investigated. The polymerization rate and M_w both decreased with an increasing salt concentration. ACOMP molecular weights were also compared with size‐exclusion chromatography on aliquots periodically withdrawn during the reaction, and good agreement was found. The effect of the pH on the rate and the molecular weight was also investigated, and when the medium pH was changed from 2 to 5 with sodium hydroxide, the rate and M_w both decreased as the pH increased. Light‐scattering results of reaction end products in the reference solvent showed that molecules synthesized at higher pH were in a more expanded form. When equimolar sodium hydroxide was added to the acrylic acid (pH ? 5) and sodium acrylate formed, adding salt did not effect the reaction kinetics of the poly(sodium acrylate); its effect on the products was a relatively minor decrease of M_w. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1352–1359, 2004     

Effect of MCM-41 nanoparticles on the kinetics of free radical and RAFT polymerization of styrene

To examine the effect of mobil composition of matter 41 (MCM-41) nanoparticles on the kinetics of free radical and 2-(dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionic acid (DDMAT)-mediated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, the polymerization reaction using various amounts of as-synthesized MCM-41 were performed. To study the reaction kinetics, conversion, molecular weight and polydispersity index (PDI) were obtained during the polymerization. Also, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the glass transition temperature (T _g) values of samples. According to the results, in free radical polymerization, conversion was increased by adding nanoparticles but the reverse trend was observed in RAFT polymerization. The same results were obtained for molecular weight values. In free radical polymerization, increasing the MCM-41 content led to higher PDI value, while in RAFT polymerization it did not appreciably affect the PDI value. In RAFT polymerization, no induction time was observed which indicates that DDMAT is an appropriate RAFT agent for styrene polymerization. Also in free radical polymerization, the addition of MCM-41 particles reduced T _g values in comparison to neat PS. On the other hand, there was an increase in T _g value up to 5 wt% of MCM-41 loading and a drastic reduction was observed in 7 wt% MCM-41 loading in the RAFT polymerization. Finally, the T _g values of nanocomposites produced by RAFT method were higher than those in the nanocomposites synthesized using the free radical method.     

Online,continuous monitoring of the sensitivity of the LCST of NIPAM-Am copolymers to discrete and broad composition distributions

The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of NIPAM/Acrylamide copolymers was monitored during synthesis using second generation ACOMP (automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization reactions) for a series of discrete starting compositions. A full sweep of NIPAM/Am compositions was subsequently obtained in a semi-batch feed of NIPAM into Am, allowing LCST behavior to be assessed over all compositions of the two copolymers. A separate Simultaneous Multiple Sample Light Scattering (SMSLS) instrument was used to assess compositional polydispersity via the broadening of the LCST temperature transition as compositional heterogeneity of samples increases. This was achieved by combining LCST data as a function of composition and added salt into a master equation. Extended period SMSLS monitoring of the aggregates formed when the LCST is reached showed they are reversible on the short time scale of hours, but are irreversible for homopolymer NIPAM with salt and for copolymers on the scale of days.     

RAFT with Bulk and Solution Polymerization: An Approach to Mathematical Modelling and Validation

Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerization is a novel technique used to impart a living character in free radical polymerization. A mathematical model accounting for the concentrations of the propagating, intermediate, dormant and dead chains is developed based on their reaction pathways. The kinetic scheme used includes initiation, propagation, pre-equilibrium, core-equilibrium and termination of the propagating radicals along with termination reactions of the carbon-centered intermediate radical. This model is combined with chain-length dependant termination model in order to account for the decreased termination rate. The model has been validated against experimental data for solution polymerization of styrene with dithiobenzoate at 80°C. The fragmentation rate coefficient was used as a model parameter and a value equal to 6×10⁴ sec^?1 was found to provide a good agreement with the experimental data. The model predictions indicate that the observed retardation can be attributed to the cross termination of the intermediate radical and, to some extent, to the RAFT effect on increasing the average termination rate coefficient. The hypothesised irreversible self termination was found to have a negligible effect on the polymerization rate. While the linear growth of the number average molecular weight along with the low polydispersity, reveal the living nature of RAFT agent and the importance of the transfer constant in controlling these properties.     

Synthesis of polydimethylsiloxane‐containing block copolymers via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization

Low polydispersity polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was end functionalized with a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent by the esterification of hydroxyl terminated PDMS with a carboxylic acid functional RAFT agent. These PDMS‐RAFT agents were able to control the free radical polymerization of styrene and substituted styrene monomers to produce PDMS‐containing block copolymers with low polydispersities and targeted molecular weights. A thin film of polydimethylsiloxane‐block‐polystyrene was prepared by spin coating and exhibited a microphase separated morphology from scanning force microscopy measurements. Controlled swelling of these films in solvent vapor produced morphologies with significant long‐range order. This synthetic route will allow the straightforward production of PDMS‐containing block copolymer libraries that will be useful for investigating their thin film morphological behavior, which has applications in the templating of nanostructured materials.© 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

苯乙烯可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合动力学

为了实现可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合过程中,苯乙烯均聚、高分子量聚苯乙烯的合成及苯乙烯与其他单体共聚时,对苯乙烯转化率、共聚时组成和分子量大小的控制,进行了二硫代苯乙酸-1-苯基乙酯(PEPDTA)调控苯乙烯本体和细乳液聚合动力学分析。在本体聚合中,反应速率慢,链增长自由基与"中间态"自由基的终止反应对聚合速率影响较小,很难合成窄分布、高转化率、高分子量的聚苯乙烯;在细乳液聚合中,反应速率快、转化率高,随着PEPDTA含量增加,乳胶粒数量减少、粒径分布变宽,诱导期和缓聚现象明显;聚合物的数均分子量随转化率线性增长,RAFT试剂浓度越高,分子量分布越窄,反应时间越长,分布越宽。以Smith-Ewart方程为基础,建立了苯乙烯RAFT细乳液聚合动力学模型,模型动力学曲线与实验数据相符合,能较好地预测实验过程。     

Controlled synthesis of thermoresponsive polymer via RAFT polymerization of an acrylamide containing l-proline moiety

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N-acryloyl-l-proline methyl ester (A-Pro-OMe) was investigated in order to find suitable conditions to achieve controlled synthesis of amino acid-based polymers with pre-determined molecular weight, narrow polydispersity, well-defined chain end structure, and characteristic thermoresponsive property. The effect of various parameters, such as chain transfer agent (CTA)/initiator ratio, solvent, and temperature, on RAFT polymerization of A-Pro-OMe was examined using benzyl dithiobenzoate as a CTA. Chain-end structure of the resulting poly(A-Pro-OMe) was confirmed by ¹H NMR analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, and chain extension experiment. Thermally induced phase separation behaviors of poly(A-Pro-OMe)s prepared by RAFT and conventional free radical polymerizations were also studied in aqueous solution.     

End‐functional polymers,thiocarbonylthio group removal/transformation and reversible addition–fragmentation–chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization

This review focuses on processes for thiocarbonylthio group removal/transformation of polymers synthesized by radical polymerization with reversible addition‐fragmentation‐chain transfer (RAFT). A variety of processes have now been reported in this context. These include reactions with nucleophiles, radical‐induced reactions, thermolysis, electrocyclic reactions and ‘click’ processes. We also consider the use of RAFT‐synthesized polymers in the construction of block or graft copolymers, functional nanoparticles and biopolymer conjugates where transformation of the thiocarbonylthio group is an integral part of the process. This includes the use of RAFT‐synthesized polymers in other forms of radical polymerization such as atom transfer radical polymerization or nitroxide‐mediated polymerization, and the ‘switching’ of thiocarbonylthio groups to enable control over polymerization of a wider range of monomers in the RAFT process. With each process we provide information on the scope and, where known, indicate the mechanism, advantages and limitations. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of diethyl-dithiocarbamic acid 2-[4-(2-diethylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl-2-phenyl-acetyl)-2,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl ester as new reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent for polymerization of ethyl methacrylate

Diethyl-dithiocarbamic acid 2-[4-(2-diethylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl-2-phenyl-acetyl)-2,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl ester as a novel di-functional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was synthesized based on 2,5-diketopiperazine. The RAFT agent was designed based on the propagating core (R group) approach and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and melting point technique. Then, ethyl methacrylate was synthesized via free radical and RAFT polymerizations. To investigate the effect of the RAFT agent on the kinetic of polymerization, molecular weight, and polydispersity index (PDI) of polymers and also monomer conversion were monitored. Also, synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, and TGA. Characterization analyses of synthesized RAFT agent were consistent with the structure. NMR and FTIR analyses confirmed end group incorporation of RAFT agent into polymer structure. According to results, poly(ethyl methacrylate) with low PDI (1.14) was obtained. Kinetic study indicated well-controlled polymerization of ethyl methacrylate by synthesized RAFT agent. TGA results showed that RAFT agent could reduce termination reactions and so reduce head-to-head bonds and chain-end unsaturation by keeping the concentration of radicals low enough.     

Modeling analysis of chain transfer in reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

The validity of simplifying the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization as a degenerative chain transfer process was verified in this work. The simplified chain transfer mechanism enabled the direct modeling investigation of chain transfer coefficient in the RAFT polymerization. It also gave the analytical expressions for concentration, chain length, and polydispersity of various chain species. The comparison between the simulations based on chain transfer mechanism and those from general RAFT mechanism showed that this simplified mechanism can accurately predict RAFT polymerization in the absence of side reactions to adduct radicals other than fragmentation. However, significant errors are introduced at high conversion when side reactions to adduct are present. The chain transfer coefficient of RAFT agent is the key factor in RAFT polymerization. The polydispersity is more sensitive to chain transfer coefficient at low conversion. At high conversion, however, the polydispersity is mainly determined by termination, which can be controlled by RAFT agent concentration and the selection of initiator. At last, an analytical equation is derived to directly estimate chain transfer coefficient of RAFT agent from the experimental data. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

Synthesis of 9H-fluoren-9-yl benzodithioates and their application as reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents in living radical polymerization of styrene

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is one of living radical polymerizations. In this study, four different 9H-fluoren-9-yl benzodithiolates (FBDTs) were synthesized, and used along with azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN), a radical initiator, in polymerization of styrene (ST) at the molar ratio of 3:1. This new transfer agent exhibited the typical characteristic living free radical polymerization behaviors such as good control of molecule weight and narrow molecule weight distribution. It was concluded that the FBDTs can be used as the RAFT agents in free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers.     

基于RAFT聚合策略合成功能化聚烯烃嵌段聚合物的研究进展

首先介绍了可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合（RAFT）的聚合机理及其常用的RAFT试剂,并与其它两种活性可控自由基聚合[氮氧化合物媒介的自由基聚合（NMP）和原子转移自由基聚合（ATRP）]进行了简单的优缺点对比。其次,介绍了近些年在基于RAFT聚合制备功能化聚烯烃嵌段聚合物研究中取得的进展,重点综述了制备功能化聚烯烃嵌段聚合物时所采用的6种方法,包括①烯烃配位聚合与RAFT聚合相结合;②阴离子聚合与RAFT聚合相结合;③阳离子聚合与RAFT聚合相结合;④Click反应与RAFT聚合相结合;⑤开环聚合与RAFT聚合相结合;⑥叶立德活性聚合与RAFT聚合相结合。最后,对基于RAFT聚合策略设计合成功能化聚烯烃嵌段聚合物的研究前景与实际应用进行了展望。     

A novel strategy to branched polyacrylonitrile via one‐pot RAFT copolymerization of acrylonitrile and an asymmetrical divinyl monomer

Branched polyacrylonitriles were prepared via the one‐pot radical copolymerization of acrylonitirle and an asymmetric divinyl monomer (allyl methacrylate) that possesses both a higher reactive methacrylate and a lower reactive allyl. RAFT technique was used to keep a low‐propagation chain concentration via a fast reversible chain transfer euilibration and thus the cross‐linking was prevented until a high level of monomer conversions. This novel strategy was demonstrated to engenerate a branched architecture with abundant pendant functional vinyl and nitrile groups, and controlled molecular weight as a behavior of controlled/living radical polymerization characteristics. The effect of the various experimental parameters, including temperature, brancher to monomer molar ratio, and chain transfer agent to initiator molar ratio, on the control of moleculer dimension (molecular weight and polydispersity indices) and the degree of branching were investigated in detail. Moreover, ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography confirm the branched architecture of the resultant polymer. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer is also lower than the linear counterpart.© 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

A 20th anniversary perspective on the life of RAFT (RAFT coming of age)

RAFT (reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization, making use of thiocarbonylthio transfer agents, was announced to the world just over 21 years ago. RAFT arose out of a desire to achieve perfection in polymers (or at least to define and limit the imperfections) and to invent living radical polymerization. However, living radical polymerization cannot be and never was. This perspective looks at RAFT after 21 years of development. Is RAFT a mature technology? We briefly summarize areas of current interest focusing on what is happening at CSIRO and point to where RAFT is going in areas such as RAFT free from exogenous initiators (photoRAFT, PET‐RAFT, eRAFT), new RAFT agents, RAFT for sequence‐defined polymers and RAFT single unit monomer insertion, RAFT emulsion polymerization and RAFT polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA), RAFT‐crosslinking polymerization and the industrial applications of RAFT. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene using novel heterocycle‐containing chain transfer agents

BACKGROUND: Controlled/‘living’ radical polymerization is a new and robust method to synthesize polymers with predetermined molecular weight, narrow polydispersity and tailored architecture. Several methods have been developed but reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) has several advantages over the other methods. It has been reported that the effectiveness of RAFT agents depends strongly on the nature of the Z and R groups. RESULTS: Three new dithiocarbamates, namely (2‐ethoxy carbonyl)‐prop‐2‐yl‐pyrrole‐1‐carbodithioate (CTA‐A), (1‐phenyl ethyl)‐pyrazole‐1‐carbodithioate (CTA‐B) and (2‐ethoxy carbonyl)‐prop‐2‐yl‐pyrazole‐1‐carbodithioate (CTA‐C), were synthesized for studying the effect of the Z and R group of a chain transfer agent on the RAFT polymerization of styrene, initiated by 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile. Well‐controlled molecular weight with narrow polydispersity (1.10–1.46) was achieved. The increase in molecular weight with conversion is linear and follows first‐order kinetics. CONCLUSION: The detailed kinetic results show that the structure of the activating (Z) group of dithiocarbamates has significant effects on the reactivity of dithiocarbamates towards the polymerization of styrene. In the homopolymerization of styrene it was found that, from the polydispersity index of polystyrenes obtained and the kinetic results, the pyrazole‐based dithiocarbamates (CTA‐B and CTA‐C) are very effective compared to the pyrrole‐based dithiocarbamate (CTA‐A). All the polymerizations show controlled living characters. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

A new approach to controlled/living radical polymerization by DPE method

Controlled free radical polymerizations of methyl methacrylate and styrene in bulk by 1,1-diphenylethene (DPE) were demonstrated in a two-step process, preheating treatment of initiators followed by a living polymerization of monomers. Over the course of polymerization, continuous growing of polymers with unimodal molecular weight distribution and a relatively small polydispersity index (around 1.5 even in the range of Mn ∼ 10⁵ g/mol) on GPC diagrams was observed. In our previous study, the DPE controlled radical polymerization with constant molecular weight throughout the polymerization was caused by the intrinsically low reactivation rate constant (k₂) of DPE capped dormant chains. To raise the reaction temperature in order to increase k₂, a continuous molecular weight growing but broader or bimodal molecular weight distribution was obtained if the living polymerization was conducted in a one-step process. In this work, a two-step polymerization process was proposed. In the first step, the initiator 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), control agent DPE, and small amount of monomer were mixed and heated for a specific time period. Then a living polymerization of monomers was conducted in the second step of polymerization. This two-step new approach had minimized the imperfections of the DPE system; thus the polymerization showed better living characters and revealed its enhanced control abilities.     

Using dilatometry in the reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization of N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzyl methacryloylamine

Optically active polymers were prepared using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) of N-(S)-α-methylbenzylmethacryloylamine (N-(S)-α-MBMA), a functional optically active monomer. RAFT polymerizations were carried out at 70 °C in ethanol using AIBN as a thermal initiator and benzyl or (1-phenyl)ethyl dithiobenzoate (BDB and PEDB, respectively) as the RAFT agents. The kinetic study was performed by dilatometry. Plots of conversion vs time indicated that the polymerizations followed first order kinetics. ¹H NMR, IR, and UV–vis spectrophotometric studies confirmed the presence of thiocarbonylthio moieties (−SCS-) in the polymer chains. The molecular weight distributions (MWDs) were moderately narrow with polydispersity indices between 1.3 and 1.6, which indicated that the control of the reaction was not completely achievement using BDB or PEDB as RAFT agents. The optical activity [α]_D²⁵ measurements of synthesized polymers by RAFT did not show a noticeably linear increase dependence with respect to molecular weight, as was previously reported for another controlled free radical polymerization (CRP) system.     

Advances in RAFT polymerization: the synthesis of polymers with defined end-groups

This paper provides an overview and discusses some recent developments in radical polymerization with reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT polymerization). Guidelines for the selection of RAFT agents are presented. The utility of the RAFT process is then illustrated with several examples of the synthesis of polymers with reactive end-groups. Thus, RAFT polymerization with appropriately designed trithiocarbonate RAFT agents is successfully applied to the synthesis of narrow polydispersity carboxy-functional poly(methyl methacrylate) and primary amino-functional polystyrene. Methods for removing the thiocarbonylthio end-group by aminolysis, reduction and thermal elimination are discussed. It is shown that the thiocarbonylthio end-group can be cleanly cleaved by radical induced reduction with tri-n-butylstannane, to leave a saturated chain end, or by thermolysis, to leave an unsaturated chain end.