Open AccessDegradable cellulose‐based polymer brushes with controlled grafting densities
Author(s) -
Olszewski Mateusz,
Li Lingchun,
Xie Guojun,
Keith Andrew,
Sheiko Sergei S.,
Matyjaszewski Krzysztof
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part a: polymer chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.768
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1099-0518
pISSN - 0887-624X
DOI - 10.1002/pola.29481
Subject(s) - cellulose , polymer chemistry , grafting , side chain , acrylate , microcrystalline cellulose , chemistry , polymer , acylation , dispersity , copolymer , organic chemistry , catalysis
Cellulose‐based polymer brushes with variable grafting densities and low dispersity were synthesized by grafting poly( n ‐butyl acrylate) (PBA) side chains from cellulose‐derived backbones via ATRP. Esterification of commercially available cellulose acetate with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide (2‐BiBB) in NMP provided cellulose‐based macroinitiators averaging one initiation site per double glucose unit. ATRP macroinitiators averaging up to 6 initiation sites per repeating double glucose unit were prepared by acylation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in LiCl/DMAc solvent system with 2‐BiBB. A series of linear macroinitiators with narrow MWD were obtained by fractional precipitation process. The content of initiating sites was determined by elemental analysis. (Meth)acrylate side chains were then grafted from the cellulose‐based macroinitiators. The prepared cellulose‐based polymer brushes showed tunable degradation rates dependent on grafting density of the brush, following two different degradation pathways, either cleavage of the main chain or detachment of the side chains. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57 , 2426–2435