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Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene initiated by bromoacetylated syndiotactic polystyrene macroinitiator
Author(s) -
Gao Yong,
Li Huaming,
Wang Xiayu
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2227
Subject(s) - polymer chemistry , polystyrene , styrene , polymerization , atom transfer radical polymerization , radical polymerization , chemistry , gel permeation chromatography , bromide , tacticity , living free radical polymerization , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , nitroxide mediated radical polymerization , copolymer , organic chemistry , polymer
Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene was conducted with bromoacetylated syndiotactic polystyrene as macroinitiator and copper bromide combined with N , N , N ′, N ′, N ′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalyst. A two‐stage process has been developed to synthesize the macroinitiator. First, syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) was functionalized in the side phenyl rings with acetyl groups using the Friedel–Crafts reaction; second, the acetyl groups were converted to bromoacetyl groups by an acid‐catalyzed halogenation reaction. The initiator was found to be active in the polymerization of styrene, leading to the production of graft chains with well‐defined structure. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the graft chains were determined using gel permeation chromatography after cleaving from the sPS backbone using peroxide acid oxidation followed by hydrazine‐catalyzed hydrolysis. The results indicated that the polymerization process was characteristic of a ‘living’ nature. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry