Controlled Synthesis of Polyelectrolytes by 4-Cyanopentanoic Acid Dithiobenzoate Mediated RAFT Polymerization

• Published in: Journal of macromolecular science. Part A, Pure and applied chemistry Pure and applied chemistry, 2013-01, Vol.50 (9), p.1002-1006
• Main Authors: Chen, Feng, Dai, Daoxing, Yang, Jingtao, Fei, Zhengdong, Zhong, Mingqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate; Applied sciences; Chain transfer; Exact sciences and technology; kinetics; Low molecular weights; Molecular weight; Monomers; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyelectrolytes; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Rafts; Reagents; reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization; Synthesis
• ISSN: 1060-1325; 1520-5738
• DOI: 10.1080/10601325.2013.814329

We reported controlled synthesis of methacrylic acid, 2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propa- nesulfonic acid (three electrolyte-type monomers) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with the chain transfer agent (CTA) (4-cyanopentanoic acid)-4-dithiobenzoate and initiator (I) 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) in homogeneous aqueous media. Three distinct [monomer] 0 : [I] 0 : [CTA] 0 ratios (50:0.2:1, 100:0.2:1, 500:0.2:1) were conducted. The polymerizations exhibited the characteristics of a controlled/"living" polymerization which demonstrated well-controlled molecular weight and low molecular weight distribution. Finally, the results of this investigation were used as a guide for the preparation of a series of well-defined polyelectrolytes (DP n = 50-500, PDI = 1.08-1.17) in high yield.