A library of thiol‐terminated methacrylate telomers prepared by photoinitiated iniferter mediated polymerization for use in modifications of chromatographic surfaces by the “grafting to” approach

A library of thiol‐terminated methacrylate telomers aimed for use in surface modifications of chromatographic support materials has been prepared by iniferter mediated polymerization, using isopropylxanthic disulfide as a photoiniferter. The telomers range from hydrophobic to hydrophilic and were prepared in different lengths, with the length being adjusted by the ratio of monomer to iniferter used in the polymerization mixture. The telomers were characterized by size‐exclusion chromatography and MALDI‐TOF‐MS. In initial surface characterization experiments, the prepared telomers were attached to the inner surface of fused silica capillaries by radical initiated addition to vinyl groups, and the electro‐osmotic flow (EOF) in the prepared capillaries was determined in a capillary electrophoresis set‐up. The EOF measurements verified surface grafting. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010