Controlled structure copolymers

Exploiting ATRP as an enabling technology, we have recently synthesised a wide range of new, controlled-structure copolymers. These include (1) branched analogues of Pluronic non-ionic surfactants (2) schizophrenic polymeric surfactants which can form two types of micelles in aqueous solution (3) novel sulfate-based copolymers for use as crystal habit modifiers (4) zwitterionic diblock copolymers, which may prove to be interesting pigment dispersants. Each of these systems is discussed in turn below. 

In terms of structural control, block copolymers have considerable advantages over graft copolymers. The segment length and sequence are generally more easily controlled for block copolymers than for graft copolymers. 

Robeson and Matzner were the first to report the synthesis of the sulfonation of DCDPS.205 This work makes it possible to synthesize sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) with well-controlled structures. Ueda et al. used this monomer (Scheme 6.27) as a comonomer of DCDPS to react with bisphenol A and high-molecular-weight bisphenol-A-based copolymers with up to 30 mol % sulfonation achieved.206 Biphenol-based copolymers with up to 100 mol % sulfonation were recently reported by Wang et al.207... 

Pioneering work in living anionic copolymerization of siloxanes was reported by Morton and co-workers 139 140, who synthesized isoprene-dimethylsiloxane block copolymers utilizing D4 as the siloxane monomer. The use of D3 in the synthesis of siloxane block copolymers with controlled structures was demonstrated by Bostick and others. Excellent reviews of these earlier studies and subsequent developments are available in the literature 22 137 13S). 

Keywords Controlled Polymerization Living Radical Polymerization Iniferter Chain-End Structure Molecular Weight Control Block Copolymer Dithiocarbamate Disulfide Nitroxide Transition Metal Complex... 

The A-B type iniferters are more useful than the B-B type for the more efficient synthesis of polymers with controlled structure The functionality of the iniferters can be controlled by changing the number of the A-B bond introduced into an iniferter molecule, for example, B-A-B as the bifunctional iniferter. Detailed classification and application of the iniferters having DC groups are summarized in Table 1. In Eqs. (9)—(11), 6 and 7 serve as the monofunctional iniferters, 9 and 10 as the monofunctional polymeric iniferters, and 8 and 11 as the bifunctional iniferters. Tetrafunctional and polyfunctional iniferters and gel-iniferters are used for the synthesis of star polymers, graft copolymers, and multiblock copolymers, respectively (see Sect. 5). When a polymer implying DC moieties in the main chain is used, a multifunctional polymeric iniferter can be prepared (Eqs. 15 and 16), which is further applied to the synthesis of multiblock copolymers. 

The living radical polymerization of some derivatives of St was carried out. The polymerizations of 4-bromostyrene [254], 4-chloromethylstyrene [255, 256], and other derivatives [257] proceed by a living radical polymerization mechanism to give polymers with well-controlled structures and block copolymers with poly(St). The random copolymerization of St with other vinyl... 

Due to higher variety of possible structures, copolymers allow a better control of the HOMO LUMO levels necessary to optimize the EL properties of the PPV, compared to homopolymers. Often the optical and electronic properties in copolymers can be finely tuned by simply changing the feed ratio of comonomers (although the structure-property relationship in these systems is even more complex than in homo-PPV polymers). Using different comonomer units, various PPV-based materials with tuned optical and electronic properties have been prepared. 

Herein we summarise our recent progress in the exploitation of ATRP for the synthesis of controlled-structure block copolymer surfactants and dispersants. 

ATRP is a powerful synthetic tool for the synthesis of low molecular weight (Dp < 100-200), controlled-structure hydrophilic block copolymers. Compared to other living radical polymerisation chemistries such as RAFT, ATRP offers two advantages (1) facile synthesis of a range of well-defined macro-initiators for the preparation of novel diblock copolymers (2) much more rapid polymerisations under mild conditions in the presence of water. In many cases these new copolymers have tuneable surface activity (i.e. they are stimuli-responsive) and exhibit reversible micellisation behaviour. Unique materials such as new schizo-... 

The bulk polycondensation of (10) is normally carried out in evacuated, sealed vessels such as glass ampules or stainless steel Parr reactors, at temperatures between 160 and 220°C for 2-12 d (67). Two monomers with different substituents on each can be cocondensed to yield random copolymers. The by-product silyl ether is readily removed under reduced pressure, and the polymer purified by precipitation from appropriate solvents. Catalysis of the polycondensation of (10) by phenoxide ion in particular, as well as by other species, has been reported to bring about complete polymerization in 24—48 h at 150°C (68). Catalysis of the polycondensation of phosphoranimines that are similar to (10), but which yield P—O-substituted polymers (1), has also been described and appears promising for the synthesis of (1) with controlled structures (69,70). 

Block copolymers, which combine polymer segments with different properties, are presumably the most widely examined system for the study of self-assembly to large-scale structures that have controlled structural and functional features on the nanometer length scale [80, 81]. Phase segregation of block copolymers, followed by selective degradation of one polymer block, leads to highly ordered porous 3D structures [82], The pore dimensions obtainable are in the micro- and mesoporous range (<50 nm), which do not meet the requirements for cellular infiltration. 

New approaches based on the introduction of reactive species into reaction mixtures that tend to cap the growing chains reversibly allow, in many cases, production of well-defined polymers and copolymers with narrow polydispersi-ties. Up to few years ago, such a possibility was unobtainable by a classical free radical process. The proposed principle of control of macroradical reactivity is very interesting conceptually, and represents a very powerful tool to prepare block copolymers with well-controlled structures. However, it is clear that the true living character as demonstrated by some anionic polymerizations is still not obtained and much more work needs to be done to understand and control this new process better. 

The development of simpler, more economic processes for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene did not signify the end of MgCl2 catalyst research, but rather constituted the first phase. New, ever more sophisticated requirements, both in terms of process and product quality, have been emerging, steadily increasing the performance range required for the catalyst control of the polymer molecular structure (MWD, branching, steric purity), of its morphological properties (shape and particle size distribution), and supply of copolymers with controlled structures. 

Polymers may be made with functionalized end-groups, leading to block copolymers with controlled structures, in parallel with the anionic systems described in more detail in Section 9.2.6.2. Also, as in living anionic polymerizations, of the polymer is directly proportional to the monomer conversion, and the polymerization may be restarted by adding more monomer after the initial monomer charge has been consumed. 

Figure 8 Schematic representation of (a) branched-block copolymers which could be available by statisticallpragmatic modification of free-radical polymerisation. (b) represents a controlled structure available from living free-radical polymerisation...

One of the most distinguishable characteristics of the metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization is that it affords polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow MWDs from a wide variety of monomers under mild conditions even in the presence of a protic compound such as water. This permits the synthesis of a vast number of polymers with controlled structures such as end-functionalized polymers, block copolymers, star polymers, etc., where they are widely varied in comparison with those obtained by other living polymerizations. This is primarily due to the tolerance to various functional groups and the polymerizability/controllability of various vinyl monomers as mentioned above. 

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