Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Poly(4-acetoxystyrene) Cubosomes

Polymer cubosomes (PCs) are a recent class of self-assembled nanostructures with great application potential due to their high porosity and surface area. Currently, most reported PCs consist of polystyrene block copolymers (BCPs), for which self-assembly parameters are rather well understood. Changing the block chemistry would be desirable to introduce more functionality; however, knowledge of adapting the self-assembly process to new chemistries remains limited. This work, reports on synthesizing poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(4-acetoxystyrene) and its copolymers with styrene, and provide conditions for their self-assembly into PCs with high yield and high inner order. It is shown that the polarity of the starting solvent toward the corona block allows tuning of the final morphology by controlling the corona volume and packing parameter.

RAFT Polymerization of a Biorenewable/Sustainable Monomer Via a Green Process

A biorenewable polymer was synthesized via a green process using the RAFT principle for the first time in supercritical CO2 at 300 bar and 80°C. α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactone polymers of various chain lengths and molecular weights were obtained. The molecular weights varied from 10000 up to 20000 with low polydispersity indexes (PDI <1.5). Furthermore, the monomer conversion in supercritical CO2 was substantially higher, respectively 85⁺ % for ScCO2 compared to around 65% for polymerizations conducted in dimethyl formamide (DMF) solvent. Chain extensions were carried out to confirm the livingness of the formed polymers in ScCO2. This opens up future possibilities of the formation of different polymer architectures in ScCO2. The polymers synthesized in ScCO2 have glass transition temperature (Tg) values ranging from 155°C up to 190°C. However, the presence of residual monomer encapsulated inside the formed polymer matrix affected the glass transition of the polymer which was lowered by increasing monomer concentrations. Hence, additional research is required to eliminate the remaining monomer concentration in the polymer matrix in order to arrive at the optimal Tg. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Facile synthesis of well-controlled poly(1-vinyl imidazole) by the RAFT process

Synthesis of well-controlled poly(1-vinyl imidazole).

R–Cl/SnCl4/n-Bu4NCl-induced direct living cationic polymerization of naturally-derived unprotected 4-vinylphenol, 4-vinylguaiacol, and 4-vinylcatechol in CH3CN

A R–Cl/SnCl₄/n-Bu₄NCl-initiating system induced direct living cationic polymerization of naturally derived styrene monomers with phenol and catechol groups in CH₃CN.

In Situ Spectroscopic Studies of Highly Transparent Nanoparticle Dispersions Enable Assessment of Trithiocarbonate Chain-End Fidelity during RAFT Dispersion Polymerization in Nonpolar Media

We report the synthesis of highly transparent poly(stearyl methacrylate)-poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PSMA-PTFEMA) diblock copolymer nanoparticles via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in nonpolar media at 70 °C. This was achieved by chain-extending a PSMA precursor block via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of TFEMA in n-tetradecane. This n-alkane has the same refractive index as the PTFEMA core-forming block at 70 °C, which ensures high light transmittance when targeting 33 nm spherical nanoparticles. Such isorefractivity enables visible absorption spectra to be recorded with minimal light scattering even at 30% w/w solids. However, in situ monitoring of the trithiocarbonate RAFT end-groups during PISA requires selection of a weak n → π* band at 446 nm. Conversion of TFEMA into PTFEMA causes a contraction in the reaction solution volume, leading to an initial increase in absorbance that enables the kinetics of polymerization to be monitored via dilatometry. At ∼98% TFEMA conversion, this 446 nm band remains constant for 2 h at 70 °C, indicating surprisingly high RAFT chain-end fidelity (and hence pseudoliving character) under monomer-starved conditions. In situ 19F NMR spectroscopy studies provide evidence for (i) the onset of micellar nucleation, (ii) solvation of the nanoparticle cores by TFEMA monomer, and (iii) surface plasticization of the nanoparticle cores by n-tetradecane at 70 °C. Finally, the kinetics of RAFT chain-end removal can be conveniently monitored by in situ visible absorption spectroscopy: addition of excess initiator at 70 °C causes complete discoloration of the dispersion, with small-angle X-ray scattering studies confirming no change in nanoparticle morphology under these conditions.

A family of linear phenolic polymers with controlled hydrophobicity, adsorption and antioxidant properties

The synthesis of a series of antioxidant polymers with varied capability to scavenge radicals and alter the wettability of surfaces is reported.

Design, synthesis and RAFT polymerisation of a quinoline-based monomer for use in metal-binding composite microfibers

Metal-binding polymer fibres have attracted major attention for diverse applications in membranes for metal sequestration from waste waters, non-woven wound dressings, matrices for photocatalysis, and many more.

Poly(styrene-graft-hyperbranched polyglycidol): synthesis and solution behavior of a hyperbranched polyelectrolyte

This work presents a three-step synthetic procedure to obtain a hypergrafted copolymer composed of a glassy backbone with flexible branched pendant segments. The polymer exhibited polyelectrolyte behavior and conformational changes prior to neutralization with LiBr salt.

Evaluation of Isoprene Chain Extension from PEO Macromolecular Chain Transfer Agents for the Preparation of Dual, Invertible Block Copolymer Nanoassemblies

Two RAFT-capable PEO macro-CTAs, 2 and 5 kDa, were prepared and used for the polymerization of isoprene which yielded well-defined block copolymers of varied lengths and compositions. GPC analysis of the PEO macro-CTAs and block copolymers showed remaining unreacted PEO macro-CTA. Mathematical deconvolution of the GPC chromatograms allowed for the estimation of the blocking efficiency, about 50% for the 5 kDa PEO macro-CTA and 64% for the 2 kDa CTA. Self assembly of the block copolymers in both water and decane was investigated and the resulting regular and inverse assemblies, respectively, were analyzed with DLS, AFM, and TEM to ascertain their dimensions and properties. Assembly of PEO-b-PIp block copolymers in aqueous solution resulted in well-defined micelles of varying sizes while the assembly in hydrophobic, organic solvent resulted in the formation of different morphologies including large aggregates and well-defined cylindrical and spherical structures.