CO2-Responsive graft copolymers: synthesis and characterization. Issue 7 (17th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Shaojian; Das, Anindita; Theato, Patrick
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 8:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 1206
• Page End: 1216
• Publication Date: 2017-01-17
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c6py01996j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : The synthesis and self-assembly study of CO2 -responsive graft copolymers fabricated from a "graft-to" strategy based on pentafluorophenyl esters as grafting sites. Abstract : A facile and versatile approach for preparing CO2 -responsive graft copolymers via a grafting-to strategy that combines controlled radical polymerization with post-polymerization modification has been demonstrated. A well-defined poly( N, N -dimethylacrylamide- co -pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (P(DMA- co -PFPA)) was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization bearing reactive pentafluorophenyl esters as grafting sites on a hydrophilic backbone. Then, amino end-functionalized poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) known for its CO2 responsiveness and hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) as side blocks, respectively. Subsequently, post-polymerization modification via active-ester amine chemistry, resulted in CO2 -responsive graft copolymers with either homo-side chains or discrete multi-functional hetero side chains. Importantly, this grafting-to strategy utilizing active-ester amine chemistry appeared to be a facile and efficient method to fabricate graft copolymers. Interestingly, both prepared CO2 -responsive graft copolymers – due to their amphiphilic nature – could self-assemble into vesicles in aqueous solution and displayed CO2 -responsive expansion owing to the protonation of tertiary amine groups of PDEAEMA side chains under CO2 stimulation.