Xanthate-mediated copolymerization of vinyl monomers for amphiphilic and double-hydrophilic block copolymers with poly(ethylene glycol)
Date
2007
Authors
Pound G.
Aguesse F.
McLeary J.B.
Lange R.F.M.
Klumperman B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
Two xanthate end-functional poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) were tested as macromolecular chain-transfer agents (macroCTA) in the reversible addition-fragmentation transfer-mediated polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and N-vinylpyrrolidone. The macroCTA leaving group played a determining role in the preparation of the block copolymers. PEG-b-PVAc and PEG-è-PVP diblock copolymers were obtained when the macroCTA had a propionyl ester leaving group, whereas under the same experimental conditions the macroCTA with a phenylacetyl ester leaving group inhibited the polymerization. In situ 1H NMR spectroscopy polymerizations were performed with low molecular weight xanthate analogues to investigate the cause of inhibition. Block copolymers were prepared with the macroCTA which did not inhibit the polymerization and were characterized via size exclusion chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The ability to produce narrowly distributed (PDI < 1.4) block copolymers end capped with a xanthate moiety with little to no homopolymer contaminant is presented. © 2007 American Chemical Society.
Description
Keywords
Block copolymers, Esters, Monomers, Polyethylene glycols, Vinyl resins, Chain-transfer agents, Phenylacetyl ester, Vinyl monomers, Copolymerization
Citation
Macromolecules
40
25
40
25