Issue 41, 2021

Multisegmented polymers via step-growth and RAFT miniemulsion polymerization

Abstract

We report a method to efficiently prepare multisegmented polymers via a combination of step-growth (SG) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Initially, a SG-macroRAFT agent featuring several trithiocarbonate moieties distributed along the chain is synthesized by a catalyst-free Diels–Alder (DA) SG polymerization at ambient temperature. The SG-macroRAFT agent is subsequently employed as a multi RAFT transfer agent in a miniemulsion polymerization, yielding multisegmented polymers (up to Mn = 100 000 g mol−1) confined in spherical nanoparticles (approx. 100 nm). We establish critical parameters such as the influence of the SG-macroRAFT agent composition and the hydrophilic nature of the initiator on the formation of the multisegmented polymer. Herein, we employed styrene as a model monomer, yet this platform technology can be readily translated to other vinylic monomers.

Graphical abstract: Multisegmented polymers via step-growth and RAFT miniemulsion polymerization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 avq 2021
Accepted
23 sen 2021
First published
23 sen 2021

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5952-5962

Multisegmented polymers via step-growth and RAFT miniemulsion polymerization

T. R. Guimarães, L. Delafresnaye, D. Zhou, C. Barner-Kowollik and P. B. Zetterlund, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 5952 DOI: 10.1039/D1PY01163D

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