Preparation of Carborane-Containing Polymers by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

A para-carborane functionalized acrylate monomer was prepared and utilized in atom transfer radical polymerizations to produce carborane-loaded linear polymers. Copolymerization with a poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate (MPEGMA) allowed for the preparation of a water-soluble random copolymer having a boron content of 7.4%. In addition, a homopolymer of the carborane acrylate monomer was utilized as a macroinitiator to produce a block copolymer where the second block consisted of MPEGMA units. Each of the resulting polymer structures was irradiated with thermal neutrons to observe boron neutron capture events occurring within the boron-loaded polymers. The characteristic gamma radiation that signifies neutron capture events was observed at ∼480 keV.