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Unimolecular Nanoparticles via Carbon‐Carbon “Click” Chemistry for All‐Polymer Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Khanjani P.,
PerezBaena I.,
Buruaga L.,
Pomposo J. A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.201251125
Subject(s) - alkyne , click chemistry , nanoparticle , copolymer , polystyrene , polymer , polymerization , polymer chemistry , nanocomposite , polycarbonate , carbon fibers , materials science , chemistry , styrene , chemical engineering , catalysis , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite number , engineering , composite material
Summary: We report for the first time the synthesis of unimolecular polystyrene‐based nanoparticles (PS‐NPs) under normal air atmosphere by direct carbon‐carbon “click” chemistry ( i.e. , “self‐click” chemistry). First, statistical poly(styrene‐ co ‐4‐vinylbenzyl chloride) copolymers synthesized by RAFT polymerization were decorated in a facile manner with alkyne groups by reaction with potassium propiolate, providing well‐defined nanoparticle precursors (PS‐Prec). Next, individual PS‐Prec chains were collapsed irreversibly to unimolecular nanoparticles of ca. 12 nm in size by intrachain Cu(II)‐catalyzed alkyne dimerization under high‐dilution conditions, as revealed by SEC, H 1 ‐NMR, DLS and TEM measurements. Based on predictions from a recent compressible thermodynamic model, the resulting nanoparticles could be promising materials for the development of homogeneous, miscible PS‐NPs / polycarbonate all‐polymer nanocomposites.