RAFT polymerization to form stimuli-responsive polymers

Graeme Moad
CSIRO Manufacturing, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, Victoria 3169, Australia. E-mail: graeme.moad@csiro.au

Received 21st October 2016 , Accepted 21st November 2016

First published on 22nd November 2016


Abstract

Stimuli-responsive polymers adapt to their surrounding environment. These polymers are capable of responding to a variety of external stimuli, which include optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, redox, pH, chemical, environmental and biological signals. They are encountered in many environments. They can have a variety of architectures (e.g., copolymers, blocks, stars). They may be present as isolated macromolecules in a medium, as supramolecular assemblies, as smart coatings, as networks or some combination of these possibilities. This paper is concerned with the process of forming such polymers by radical polymerization with reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT). RAFT polymerization has an advantage over most processes for reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) in its tolerance of a wide range of unprotected functionalities. Three basic strategies for forming stimuli-responsive polymers are considered: RAFT polymerization of functional monomers (a “grafting through” approach), the post-polymerization modification of RAFT-synthesized polymers (some combination of “grafting through”, “from” and “to”), and the use of functional RAFT agents and RAFT end-group transformation (often “grafting from”). Other syntheses involve combinations of these processes and of RAFT polymerization with other processes. We also consider the responsiveness of the thiocarbonylthio-functionality of macroRAFT agents in terms of their ability to directly initiate and control RAFT polymerization and to regulate the properties of RAFT-synthesized polymers.


Introduction

Stimuli-responsive polymers are capable of adapting to their environment. They respond to a variety of external stimuli that include optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, redox, pH, chemical, environmental and biological signals.1 This paper will not discuss the details of the many-fold applications and properties of stimuli-responsive materials, rather it is concerned at a more fundamental level with the processes of forming such functional polymers by RAFT (Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer) polymerization. We also largely exclude explicit coverage of biopolymer conjugates from this review. While these materials represent an extremely important class of stimuli-responsive polymers, their properties are adequately covered in other documents.2,3 Moreover, in this review emphasis is placed on polymers which respond reversibly to a stimulus rather than polymers that undergo an irreversible change.

Stimuli-responsive elements of RAFT-synthesized polymers may originate from functionality present in the RAFT agent or macroRAFT agent, the monomers polymerized, or might be incorporated post-polymerization by transformation of the RAFT-synthesized polymer. Each of these possibilities will be considered. With the above constraints in mind, we commence with a brief overview of RAFT polymerization.

RAFT polymerization

RAFT polymerization4 is a reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP);5 a process that, with appropriate attention to reagents and reaction conditions, can possess most of the attributes normally associated with living polymerization.6,7 These attributes include, low molar mass dispersity, high end group fidelity, capacity for continued chain growth and access to complex architectures. RDRP are often called living or controlled radical polymerizations. However, the use of these terms in this context is now discouraged by IUPAC.5

The attributes of low molar mass dispersity, uniform chemical composition and high end group fidelity offered by RAFT polymerization are crucial to many applications in ensuring a reproducible, reliable and uniform response.

In the context of synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers, RAFT polymerization has an advantage over other RDRP processes,5 which include nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP),8,9 and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) or transition metal-mediated RDRP,10–15 in its tolerance of a wide range of functionalities in monomer, RAFT agent and the polymerization medium.

RAFT provides reversible deactivation by a degenerate chain transfer mechanism (Scheme 1). The chain transfer steps that comprise the main equilibria are termed degenerate because they involve only an exchange of functionality between propagating radicals and dormant polymer chains (called macroRAFT agents). The only distinction between the species on the two sides of the equilibria is their degree of polymerization (n and m). Moreover, in an effective RAFT process, where the rate of chain equilibration is rapid with respect to propagation, there should be less than one monomer unit added per activation cycle, so these also will be similar.


image file: c6py01849a-s1.tif
Scheme 1 Mechanism for reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer. Initiation requires a source of radicals (initiation and termination reactions are not shown).

The overall RAFT process (Scheme 2) then comprises the sequential insertion of monomer units into an initial RAFT agent. The R and ZCS2 groups are retained in the macro RAFT agent. The species labelled ‘intermediate’ in Scheme 1 should ideally be transient species and play no direct role in the process.


image file: c6py01849a-s2.tif
Scheme 2 Two representations of the overall RAFT Process.

In that the steps comprise chain transfer reactions, there should be no net formation or loss of radicals as a consequence of the RAFT process. Initiating radicals must be formed in a separate step from an added initiator, from monomer, or from the RAFT agent. However, all radical species (initiating radicals, propagating radicals, even the intermediates) can, in principle, be involved in termination by radical–radical reaction. It is important to choose reaction conditions such that termination events are minimized. This generally means that targeted molecular weights should be substantially smaller than those that would be formed in a similar radical polymerization without the RAFT agent.

Monomers in RAFT polymerization

While the reactivity of monomers in radical polymerization forms a continuum, it is useful to consider them as belonging to one of two broad classes.16,17 The ‘less activated’ monomers or LAMs (see Fig. 1) are those where the double bond is adjacent to one or more oxygen, nitrogen, halogen or sulfur lone pairs [e.g., vinyl acetate (VAc), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL), 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (BMDO), vinyl chloride (VC), vinylidene fluoride (VF2), (4-bromophenyl)(vinyl)sulfane (BPVS)] or saturated carbon (e.g., diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC), BOC-protected allylamine (ABOC)).
image file: c6py01849a-f1.tif
Fig. 1 Abbreviations for and examples of some less-activated monomers (LAMs). Polymer abbreviations are formed by including the monomer abbreviation in parentheses and suffixing with “P”, e.g., P(VAc) is poly(vinyl acetate).

The ‘more-activated’ monomers (MAMs, see Fig. 2) are those where the double bond is conjugated to an aromatic ring [e.g., the styrenes and vinyl aromatics: styrene (St) and substituted styrenes, 4-vinylpyridine (4VP), acenaphthalene (AcN)], a double bond [e.g., the dienes: butadiene (Bd), isoprene (Ip), chloroprene (Cp)], a carbonyl group [e.g., methacrylic acid (MAA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylic acid (AA), methyl acrylate (MA), acrylamide (Am)] or a nitrile [e.g., acrylonitrile (AN)]. Maleic anhydride (MAH) and maleimides [e.g., N-phenylmaleimide (NPMI)] also belong to this class.


image file: c6py01849a-f2.tif
Fig. 2 Examples of some more-activated monomers (MAMs). Polymer abbreviations are formed by including the monomer abbreviation in parentheses and suffixing with “P”, e.g., P(St) is polystyrene.

As with any continuum some monomers fall at the boundary of the extremes. Thus, N-vinylcarbazole (NVC), and most likely other N-vinyl aromatics, are intermediate stabilized monomers (IAMs).18

To date, most syntheses of stimuli-responsive polymers have involved the polymerization of MAMs. The reason for this is partly historical, reflecting the fact that most RDRP processes (e.g., ATRP and NMP) are not generally applicable to LAMs (or IAMs).

With appropriate selection of the RAFT agent, RAFT polymerization is compatible with all monomer classes. Indeed, the polymerization of most monomers amenable to radical polymerization can be mediated by RAFT. The exceptions are those that contain functionality that may react with the thiocarbonylthio group of the RAFT agent. Of specific concern are monomers which contain nucleophilic substituents such as primary or secondary amino-, or thiol-substituents. For example, RAFT polymerization of AEMA as the free amine is not well-controlled. However, low dispersity P(AEMA) can be successfully prepared when the monomer is maintained in fully protonated form. RAFT polymerization can be performed for monomers containing primary aromatic amines (e.g., 53,19 see section Nitric oxide responsive polymers).

Monomers that are not readily polymerized by conventional radical polymerization, e.g., those that contain functionality that is reactive toward the propagating radicals (such as nitro-groups20), are also likely to be problematical in RAFT polymerization (or other RDRP). Nonetheless, RAFT does offer, some benefits in this context. For example, it is possible to achieve higher monomer conversions without gelation (significant crosslinking) in RAFT (co)polymerization of the conjugated diene monomers, butadiene (Bd), isoprene (Ip) and chloroprene (Cp), than in conventional radical polymerization.21 This result can be attributed to the lower dispersity of the RAFT-synthesized (co)polymers and, in particular, to the elimination of the high molecular weight tail of the molecular weight distribution.

Factors limiting the control exerted in RDRP of LAMs are the relatively high incidence of propagation involving head addition to monomer and of irreversible chain transfer. This has been studied for RAFT polymerization of VAc22,23 and VF224 and may be significant for other LAMs which show some proclivity for head addition during radical polymerization.25 Interestingly, RAFT polymerization of VC26 and of certain vinyl ethers27 has been found less problematical than would have been expected on the basis of studies of the conventional process.

Theoretical arguments suggest that side reactions that involve rearrangement of transient intermediates (propagating species) should be less prevalent in RDRP, which impacts, in particular, on RDRP of acrylates, VAc and VC.28

RAFT agents

RAFT agents, their design, selection and synthesis, are well-described in recent reviews.16,17,29–32 The choice of the initial RAFT agents (ZC([double bond, length as m-dash]S)SR) for a set of monomer(s) and reaction conditions is crucial to achieving good control over dispersity and end-group fidelity. The effectiveness of RAFT agents is determined by the substituents Z (the activating group) and R (the homolytic leaving group). General guidelines for their selection are summarized in Fig. 3 and 4, respectively.16,32
image file: c6py01849a-f3.tif
Fig. 3 Guidelines for selection of the ‘Z’ group of RAFT agents (Z–C([double bond, length as m-dash]S)S–R) for various polymerizations. RAFT agent addition rates and transfer constants decrease and fragmentation rates increase from left to right. For ‘R’, fragmentation rates decrease from left to right. A dashed line indicates limited control (e.g., retardation and/or high dispersity likely under some conditions). Figure updated from the similar guidelines that appeared in earlier reviews.32,47 For monomer abbreviations see Fig. 1 and 2.

image file: c6py01849a-f4.tif
Fig. 4 Guidelines for selection of the ‘R’ group of RAFT agents (Z–C([double bond, length as m-dash]S)S–R) for various polymerizations. Fragmentation rates decrease from left to right. A dashed line indicates limited control (e.g., retardation and/or high dispersity likely under some conditions). Figure updated from the similar guidelines that appeared in earlier reviews.32,47 For monomer abbreviations see Fig. 1 and 2.

RAFT agents referred to in the text are shown in Table 1 (aromatic dithioesters), Table 2 (trithiocarbonates), Table 3 (dithiocarbonates or xanthates) and Table 4 (dithiocarbamates).

Table 1 Aromatic dithioester RAFT agents
image file: c6py01849a-u1.tif


Table 2 Trithiocarbonate RAFT agents
image file: c6py01849a-u2.tif


Table 3 Xanthate or dithiocarbonate RAFT agents
image file: c6py01849a-u3.tif


Table 4 Dithiocarbamate RAFT agents
image file: c6py01849a-u4.tif


Z group selection. It was pointed out some time ago32 that, with access to just two types of RAFT agent differing in the Z group, it is possible to control the polymerization of most monomers so as to provide low dispersities, high end group fidelity and minimal retardation.32 One RAFT agent would be suited to MAMs (e.g., a trithiocarbonate) and the other to LAMs (e.g., a xanthate or dithiocarbamate).

Aromatic dithioesters such as the dithiobenzoates are amongst the most active RAFT agents (Fig. 3) and are arguably the reagents of choice for methacrylates and methacrylamides.33 They are, however, also more prone to side reactions, which include hydrolysis. Polymerizations of monosubstituted MAMs may be retarded by dithiobenzoates and those of LAMs and IAM are often inhibited. This is attributed to the “intermediate” species (Scheme 1) having a sufficient lifetime that some are consumed in side reactions. The polymerizations may also show greater oxygen sensitivity.

Trithiocarbonates, while not as active as the dithiobenzoates, provide a better balance between activity and incidence of side reactions. They are currently the most popular RAFT agents for controlling polymerization of MAMs.34,35

The dithiocarbonate (or xanthate)36 and dithiocarbamate37–40 RAFT agents towards the centre of Fig. 3 provide a measure of control over the polymerization of both MAMs and LAMs. Recent examples of such RAFT agents are the 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carbodithioates.41 These dithiocarbamates have wide-spread applicability. The cyanomethyl-derivative 44 offers very low dispersities (Đ < 1.1) for MAM-derived polymers P(MA), P(DMAm) and P(St) and Đ < 1.3 for the LAM, P(VAc).41 The 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carbodithioate 46 provides reasonable control (Đ ∼ 1.3) in MMA polymerization.42

Switchable RAFT agents (e.g., 43/43-H+), so-called because they can be reversibly switched by an external stimulus to give very good control over polymerization of either MAMs or LAMs, have been also described43,44 Protonation provides a pH switch in most current examples. As indicated in Fig. 3, the unswitched 43 is similar to 45 in activity and provides good control over LAMs (e.g., VAc), while the switched 43-H+ has similar activity to 42 and is effective with MAMs (e.g., St). These RAFT agents are further discussed below (see Switchable (pH responsive) RAFT agents).

In the context of stimuli-responsive polymer synthesis, requirements for specific end-group-functionality, architecture and/or solubility characteristics will also play a role in dictating the selection of the type of RAFT agent.45,46

R group selection. The R group of the initial RAFT agent (ZC([double bond, length as m-dash]S)SR) must be selected to equal or better the homolytic leaving group ability of the propagating radical(s) formed in polymerization and also be a good initiating radical for the monomer(s) being polymerized. The rate constant for reaction of the radical R˙ with monomer (ki) should be greater than or equal to that for propagation (kp).

When ki is substantially lower than kp, polymerizations may be subject to an inhibition period until the initial RAFT agent is converted to a macroRAFT agent. This situation pertains in the case of more highly stabilized or sterically hindered radicals that are good homolytic leaving groups but add to monomer only slowly, e.g., when the RAFT agent R group is benzyl or substituted benzyl and the monomer is a LAM or IAM. This behaviour accounts for some of the dashed lines in Fig. 4. It does not mean that low dispersity polymers cannot be formed at higher monomer conversions. However, the behaviour can result in an inhibition period and places a constraint on the end-group fidelity.

RAFT agents for stimuli-responsive polymers. RAFT agents that have found use in the context of synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers are shown in Tables 1–4. In selecting RAFT agents for use in polymerization there are many factors to consider other that the reactivity or the RAFT agent.

For homogeneous RAFT polymerization, the solubility of the RAFT agent in the polymerization medium, can be a key concern. Aqueous soluble RAFT agents are of particular interest for many bio-applications and also for the synthesis of thermoresponsive polymers.48–50 RAFT agents which show a degree of water solubility include 6, 8, 12, 15, 21, 22, 28, 39 and 43/43H+.51 Note that some require at least partial ionization for solubility.

For heterogeneous polymerization, the solubility of the RAFT agent determines whether the RAFT agent or macroRAFT is localized in the desired phase and the transport/partitioning of the RAFT agent between phases.52,53 The selection of RAFT agents for emulsion and other forms of heterogeneous polymerization is complex and space limitations prevent a detailed discussion.

The selection of RAFT agent must also take into account the functionality required for the end-use application and whether thiocarbonylthio group removal/transformation is required. It is important to note that the Z group and its functionality will typically be lost if the RAFT end group is cleaved (see RAFT end-group transformation chemistry).

Initiators in RAFT polymerization

The RAFT mechanism (Scheme 1) requires an external source of radicals for polymerization to proceed. The initiators used in RAFT polymerization are most commonly a thermal source of radicals such as 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropanenitrile), AIBN.54 However, other initiators, including various peroxides, can also be used. Even though the peroxide-derived radicals may react irreversibly with RAFT agents, the kinetic parameters55 generally ensure that oxygen-centred peroxide-derived radicals react preferentially with monomer under most polymerization conditions.

The initiating radicals may also be formed from directly from the monomer (e.g., in thermal St polymerization56), or from the RAFT agent by direct photolysis,57–62 or by redox (e.g., by atom transfer radical addition)63,64 or photo-redox chemistry.65–70 The redox- and photo-responsiveness of the RAFT agent thiocarbonylthio-functionality, and photo electron/energy transfer-RAFT (PET-RAFT), are considered further later in this review.

In RAFT polymerization, the rate of initiation should be as low as possible commensurate with achieving an acceptable rate of polymerization. When conventional initiators are used the usual guideline is that the amount of initiator (or more correctly, the amount of initiator-derived radicals formed) should be less than 10 mole% of the amount of RAFT agent. This should ensure an end-group fidelity of greater than 90%.

The fraction of living chains (L) in RDRP is defined as the number of active chain ends plus the number of dormant chain ends. In a RAFT polymerization, this equates to the fraction of chains with RAFT agent functionality and can be estimated from the relationship (eqn (1)):32

 
image file: c6py01849a-t1.tif(1)
where [T]0 is the RAFT agent concentration, d is the number of chains produced from radical–radical termination (1.0 for termination by combination, 2.0 for termination by disproportionation), f is the initiator efficiency and [I]0 − [I]t is the initiator consumed. The expression applies to initiators which decompose to form two similar radicals, such as AIBN. If the initiator decomposition rate constant (kd) is known,54 the initiator consumption at time t can be estimated using eqn (2):
 
[I]0 − [I]t = [I]0 (1 − ekdt)(2)

In cases where polymerization is slow, rather than boost the rate of initiation, a better strategy when possible is to choose conditions that facilitate propagation (e.g., by increasing the temperature and/or the monomer concentration).

In order to maximize RAFT end-group fidelity and/or block purity, it is important to stop the polymerization once the desired conversion is achieved. Continued production of radicals beyond this point will lead to further loss of living ends.

One criticism of RAFT, in comparison to RDRP such as NMP or ATRP, is that because an exogenous initiator is used in RAFT there must be (a greater number of) dead chains. However it should also be noted that both the rate of polymerization and the rate of termination are determined by the radical concentration. It follows that all RDRP that proceed at a similar rate will experience a similar amount of termination.

Gradient copolymer synthesis

In a random copolymer, the polymer composition and sequence distribution are determined only by the concentrations of monomers in the feed. In a statistical copolymer, the polymer composition and sequence distribution is additionally determined by the monomer reactivity ratios. Random copolymers, alternating copolymers and gradient copolymers are each a subset of statistical copolymers that may be formed depending on the polymerization method and the monomer reactivity ratios.71

Most copolymers formed by RAFT copolymerization of two or more monomers will, by default, be gradient copolymers. Any compositional drift that arises from disparities in the reactivity ratios will be captured within each individual polymer chain. The more reactive monomer will appear closer to the “R” end. The less reactive monomer(s) will be concentrated at the “ZCS2” end (Scheme 3). In RAFT copolymerization, chains will not be identical but all will possess the same gradient composition with the monomer sequence distribution being determined by the monomer reactivity ratios.


image file: c6py01849a-s3.tif
Scheme 3 RAFT gradient copolymer synthesis making use of two monomers with disparate reactivity ratios.

Forced gradient copolymers are made by purposefully skewing the monomer feed.72,73 Any changes in monomer composition will be immediately reflected in the composition of each polymer chain at the “ZCS2” end. Feed addition protocols can be designed to form random copolymers when reactivity ratios would dictate that a gradient would be formed for a batch polymerization. In batch heterogeneous polymerization, gradient compositions may also reflect the differential solubility of the monomers.74

In the context of forming stimuli-responsive copolymers, an important benefit of RAFT polymerization and gradient copolymer formation, is that all chains formed have essentially the same composition. In these circumstances, conventional radical copolymerization of monomers with disparate reactivity ratios would yield a polymer blend (Scheme 4). In the conventional (non-RDRP) process, polymer chains formed at low monomer conversion will differ in composition and molar mass from those formed at high conversion. This behaviour provides one explanation for RAFT-synthesized copolymers showing properties that are substantially different to those of conventionally prepared copolymers in various applications. Examples of stimuli-responsive polymers which take advantage of such spontaneous gradient formation include RAFT copolymerization of St with AA.75 Particularly disparate reactivity ratios enables the RAFT-synthesis of “blocky” copolymers in a batch process (e.g., in copolymerizations of St with MAH76,77 or in the copolymerization of ODA with NVP78,79) and allows the concept of “writing to polymer chains” by shot addition of small amounts of monomer during polymerization.80,81


image file: c6py01849a-s4.tif
Scheme 4 Conventional copolymer synthesis making use of two monomers with disparate reactivity ratios will form a blend. Chains formed at low conversion will comprise mainly the more reactive monomer.

A recent example of gradient polymer synthesis in the context of stimuli-responsive polymers is the synthesis of gradient polymer electrolytes for application in lithium batteries.82

Good control in RAFT MAM/LAM copolymerization is possible in circumstances where a given RAFT agent may be specific for MAMs or LAMs. Thus, trithiocarbonates provide good control in copolymerizations of tBA and VAc even though the same RAFT agent inhibits VAc homopolymerization. Xanthates and dithiocarbamates also provide good control in such copolymerizations (e.g., 40 in MA/VAc copolymerization83 or 20 in DMAm/VAc copolymerization41).

Non-gradient (random) copolymer synthesis

In forming stimuli-responsive polymers it is sometimes desirable to have monomer functionalities randomly distributed within copolymer chains. As stated above, the default product in RAFT copolymerization (and other RDRP) will be a gradient copolymer. Random copolymers will only be formed when the monomer reactivity ratios are unity (e.g., copolymerization of two similar methacrylates approach this ideal), when a constant ratio of monomers in the feed can be maintained by judicious additions of monomer(s), and when copolymerizations are performed at an azeotropic monomer composition.

For binary copolymerizations of two monomers A and B that can be represented by the terminal model,84 and where the monomer reactivity ratios are both greater than or less than unity, there will be exactly one azeotropic composition for the monomer feed when the fraction of monomer A in the feed (fA) is (1 − rA)/(1 − rB).84 In RAFT copolymerization this value may be perturbed for short chain lengths by specificity shown by the RAFT agent-derived radical. Conditions for azeotropic compositions for binary copolymerization when a penultimate model applies85 and for ternary and quaternary copolymerizations86 have also been defined.

In the context of RAFT copolymerization, polymerization under azeotropic conditions has been made use of in forming, e.g., St/MMA87 St/Bd88 and St/AN copolymers.4 Moraes et al. have explored the strategy for the case of HPMA copolymers.89

Sequence defined polymers by RAFT

There is much interest been in the preparation of sequence defined polymers by RAFT and other RDRP wherein the sequence of monomers in a polymer chain is decided by the synthetic chemist rather than statistical factors. The goal is to attain the precision demonstrated by nature in molecules such as proteins or nucleic acids. The development of a practical strategy should immediately lead to a major advance in stimuli-responsive polymers.
Multi-block polymer synthesis. Many have decided that that sequence control and the monomer level is impractical and have turned their attention to the production of multi-block copolymers in which the sequence of blocks is controlled. This approach is described in the section Block copolymer synthesis below.
RAFT single unit monomer insertion. RAFT single unit monomer insertion (SUMI) was demonstrated by Zard and coworkers90 as a useful technique in organic synthesis, a decade before the invention of the RAFT as a method for RDRP. Much recent interest placed in performing sequential SUMI to form copolymers with sequence distribution that is precisely defined at the monomer level. Using conventionally initiated RAFT with appropriate selection of RAFT agent and monomer, high yield (>95%) SUMI has been demonstrated for monosubstituted MAMs (e.g., St,91,92 2-vinylthiophene,93 DMA,92 NIPAM91). Successful SUMI requires a RAFT agent with Ctr such that, on average, there is <1 monomer inserted per activation cycle (i.e., kp[M] ≪ ktr[RAFT agent]) and is facilitated by kikp, by kβk−add (refer Scheme 1), by low relative monomer concentrations (stoichiometric with RAFT agent) and an initiator-derived radical that is identical to the RAFT agent ‘R’ group.91,92 SUMI is an important technique for converting macromonomers to macroRAFT agents.93

In cases where high yield SUMI is not possible, the application of separation techniques, such as preparative recycling size exclusion chromatography,94–96 can enable separation of discrete oligomers from the reaction-derived oligomer mixtures. However, yields are then lowered.

Consecutive high yield SUMI has been demonstrated for St-MAH92 and St-NPMI co-dimer97 with 2. Success in these cases can be attributed to MAH and NPMI being inert to the initiator-derived radical from AIBN. Zard and co-workers98 reported consecutive SUMI of NVPI followed by an allyl monomer into a xanthate. A key factor contributing to success in these examples is the use of a non-homopolymerizable monomer99 (kp ∼ 0) in the second SUMI step. However, in general, yields in conventionally initiated consecutive SUMI experiments are substantially lowered by the concurrent formation of products from initiator-derived chains.91,92 SUMI of non-homopolymerizable monomers also provides a method of chain-end functionalization for RAFT synthesized polymers. MAH,100–103 maleimides,104,105 β-pinene,105 and ABOC (for a primary amino end-group)106 have been used in this context.

A recent development is PET-RAFT-SUMI wherein radicals are generated directly by photo-activation of the RAFT agent (see section on Light-responsive RAFT agents below). It has been possible to form discrete, e.g., St-NPMI-VAc co-trimers in near quantitative yield.107 The full scope of this process is currently being explored.

Template polymerization. The use of templates, many biologically derived or at least biologically inspired, has been studied.108 One approach makes use of polymers comprising nucleobase pendants with the aim of preparing precisely defined daughter polymers of the complementary nucleobase.109–111

Block copolymer synthesis

Di-, tri- and higher order block copolymers or multi-blocks can be simply made by sequential addition of monomers (Scheme 5).112 Details are provided in many reviews.17,32,113 However, it is worthwhile stressing some of the critical factors for achieving high quality blocks.
image file: c6py01849a-s5.tif
Scheme 5 Representations of RAFT multi-block copolymer synthesis by sequential monomer addition using (a) a mono-RAFT agent or (b) a symmetrical trithiocarbonate.

The factors mentioned above under Initiators in RAFT polymerization with respect to maintaining end-group fidelity are also extremely important to attaining block purity in block copolymer synthesis.112 For each chain initiated, between one and two chains will terminate depending on the termination mechanism. Thus, in making an AB diblock, there will be an amount of homopolymer A contaminant corresponding to the number of initiator-derived chains generated during the synthesis of the A block. Any Initiator-derived chains formed during formation of the B block will comprise a homopolymer B impurity. Moreover, if termination occurs by combination, some ABA triblock will also be formed during this step. The situation become progressively more complex for multi-block copolymers, as the number of generations increases.

For high kp monomers such as acrylates and acrylamides, it is possible to achieve high polymerization rates with very low amounts of initiator. It is, therefore, also possible to achieve high (e.g., >99%) monomer conversions whilst maintaining the integrity of the RAFT end groups. For example, this strategy was to advantage used in making amphiphilic copolymers comprising a P(ODA) block,79 where any residual ODA is difficult to remove. It was also applied in the Perrier approach114–117 to multi-block copolymer synthesis.

Nonetheless, in order to maximize end-group fidelity, it is desirable to limit monomer conversion to e.g., <90%, particularly in the case of low kp monomers such as styrenes and methacrylates. As monomer conversion increases, termination becomes progressively more important. In these cases, it may be expedient to prepare what have been called quasi-block copolymers.118,119 These arise when block copolymers are formed by sequential addition of monomers where there is incomplete monomer conversion and no purification is performed to remove the residual monomer. For the case of sequential addition of two monomers A and B, the product “quasi-block” will be a gradient copolymer, P(A)-b-P(A-grad-B), due to the incorporation of the residual first block monomer into the second block. The detailed structure of the “quasi-block” will depend on the monomer reactivity ratios. Where reactivity ratios are similar (e.g., for copolymerization of several methacrylates120) the copolymer structure may approximated as P(A)-block-P(A-ran-B). Where the monomer reactivity ratios are such that there is a strong tendency for alternation (e.g., St/MAH), the copolymer structure will be P(A)-b-P(A-grad-B)-b-P(B). The quasi-block protocol is particularly attractive when using high-throughput methods.119–121 However, the impact on polymer properties always needs to be considered. For many applications, purity is of paramount importance.

The factors that were mentioned as important for R group selection above also determine the order in which blocks should be constructed in block copolymer syntheses based sequential monomer addition. The propagating radical derived from the first-made block must be a good homolytic leaving group (i.e., equal or better) with respect to that to be produced from the monomers of the next-made block. The propagating radical derived from the first-made block must add efficiently to at least one of the monomer(s) that will comprise the second block.

For example, in attempted synthesis of P(St-b-VAc) the P(St) propagating species adds VAc only slowly.43 As a consequence, the P(St) macroRAFT agent is only slowly consumed, there is significant retardation particularly in the presence of any residual St monomer, and, even though a low dispersity diblock is possible, complete conversion to a diblock is only achieved for high monomer conversions. This situation can be remedied by installing a short block of a more suitable monomer (MA) between the P(St) and P(VAc) blocks to form P(St)-b-P(MA)-b-P(VAc).43,122 The P(MA) block length should be sufficient to ensure at least one unit of MA at the end of every chain. A second remedy is to add a small amount of MA as a comonomer in forming the VAc block [to form P(St)-b-(P(MA)-grad-P(VAc))-b-P(VAc)]. The St/MA and MA/VAc reactivity ratios are such as to ensure the desired structure.43,122

Another method of achieving improved block integrity when constructing “wrong-way” blocks, or when using low transfer constant macroRAFT agents, involves use of starved-feed addition protocol.123,124 The rate of consumption of an initial RAFT or macroRAFT agent can be approximated by the expression (eqn (3))

 
image file: c6py01849a-t2.tif(3)
where Ctr (= [kadd/(k−add + kβ)]/kp) and C−tr (= [k−β/(k−add + kβ)]/ki) are the forward and reverse transfer constants associated with the initialization process (refer Scheme 1). This indicates that the relative rate of consumption of the initial RAFT agent can be enhanced by reducing the monomer concentration. In early work, this strategy was employed in preparing low dispersity block copolymers from so-called macromonomer RAFT agents.125,126 Very recently, this strategy has been applied in the synthesis of multi-block copolymers.127

Star polymer synthesis

Star structures and the general approaches to star polymer synthesis are described in detail in a recent review.128 There are two main routes to star polymers by RDRP. These are (a) the core-first methods, in which chains are grown from a core containing multiple RAFT agent functionalities (a “grafting from” approach) and (b) the arm-first methods, in which arms are prepared first and linked to provide a star structure (may be “grafting to” or “grafting through”).

Particularly For the case of core-first methods that involve RAFT polymerization, we should additionally consider processes based on Z-connected or R-connected RAFT agents (Scheme 6). These are sometimes known as the convergent- and divergent-growth approaches, respectively. For the process based on Z-connected RAFT agent propagating radicals are always detached from the core. Dormant chains are attached to the core by a cleavable thiocarbonylthio linkage. No star–star coupling is likely. For the process based on R-connected RAFT agents most propagating radicals remain attached to the core (initiator-derived chains whether active or dormant remain detached from the core). The polymer is directly attached to the core and the thiocarbonylthio group is an end group. Star–star coupling is frequently observed.


image file: c6py01849a-s6.tif
Scheme 6 Representation of core-first processes for 3-arm star synthesis by RAFT polymerization with (a) Z-connected and (b) R-connected RAFT agents.

The core in core-first star synthesis can be a well-defined low molecular weight compound.123,129 However, a wide range of multifunctional substrates can be converted to multi-RAFT agents using well-established chemistry.130 These substrates may take the form of:

• a dendrimer, a hyperbranched oligomer/polymer, or a nano- or microgel.

• a particle or nanoparticle.131,132 See Surface-initiated RAFT polymerization (SI-RAFT) below.

• a metal complex133–140 There are now many examples of using metal complexes directly as the core of star polymers. The metal complex must be compatible with the redox properties of RAFT agent.

The early CSIRO work129 showed that low dispersity stars could be synthesized making use of both Z-connected and R-connected multi-RAFT agent cores. Later work established mechanisms for accelerated termination in polymerizations with Z-connected RAFT agents.141 This has served to emphasize the importance of RAFT agent design and the choice of polymerization conditions.142

Two convenient processes for forming nanogel cores by RAFT polymerization are RAFT-mediated crosslinking copolymerization143,144 and RAFT self-condensing vinyl polymerization.145–149 The crosslinking copolymerization approach involves RAFT mediated copolymerization of a multi-olefinic crosslinking monomer e.g., DVB, EGDMA or MBA. The self-condensing vinyl polymerization route involves RAFT (co)polymerization mediated by a RAFT agent containing monomer functionality (sometimes these are referred to as RAFT inimers). Recently, we compared these two approaches in preparing star architectures for antigen delivery.150

The arm-first route often involves a crosslinking copolymerization mediated by a macroRAFT agent.151,152 The method involving RAFT polymerization was first described in patent applications that appeared during 1999–2000 by Solomon et al.153 and Berge et al.154 A variant on the approach makes use of a macromonomer, a crosslinking agent and a low molecular weight RAFT agent.155 Examples of arm-first star synthesis making use of redox sensitive crosslinkers comprising a disulphide linkage can be found in Table 7.

The optimal conditions for achieving low dispersities when preparing RAFT-synthesized stars by the arm-first process are not fully understood. Some early studies found that the use of RAFT polymerization in the arm-first method provided polymers with a relatively broad molar mass distribution.156 The use of heterogeneous (emulsion) polymerization has been advocated to resolve this issue.157,158 For homogeneous polymerization, the dispersities of star polymers appear strongly solvent dependent. It was suggested that one requirement for attaining low dispersities that polymerization medium is a poor solvent for the crosslinker.159,160 Low dispersity stars (POEGA, PtBA or PNIPAm arms) were obtained with use of the crosslinker N,N′-bis(acryloyl)cystamine in toluene as solvent.159 However, this appears to be neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for forming low dispersity stars and further study is needed.161

In the arm-first process the RAFT functionality is retained in the core. Thus arm-first stars can be used subsequently as macroRAFT agents in the so called “in–out” process for mikto-arm star synthesis.162 Mikto-arm stars comprise arms of two or more different compositions attached to a central core163,164 and various approaches using RAFT polymerization have been applied in their synthesis.100,152,165–172

Cylindrical polymer brushes

In this section, we consider so-called bottle brush polymers or cylindrical polymer brushes. Brushes formed on surfaces or particles are discussed below under SI-RAFT.173

Strategies for bottle brush polymers and cylindrical polymer brush synthesis by RAFT polymerization generally parallel those already described for star polymer synthesis. Thus, core-first approaches have been described that commence with synthesis of polymers with pendant RAFT agent functionality.174–176 In the case of low kp monomers (e.g., St, MMA) use of a “sacrificial” RAFT agent has been shown to facilitate synthesis R-connected polymer brushes.177

Arm-first approaches usually involve polymerization of macromonomers; a “grafting through” strategy. Examples are generally limited to those monomers that are sterically less demanding such as, PEGA,178 PODA,79,179,180 and the corresponding methacrylates.

Other methods involve formation of a functional polymer backbone and brush formation by some combination of RAFT polymerization, “click” chemistry, and sometimes another RDRP method, most commonly ATRP. Examples include:

• the syntheses of alkyne-end-functional arms by RAFT polymerization, which are then “clicked” to an azide functional backbone.181,182

• the preparation of a backbone with pendant protected primary amine functionality by RAFT polymerization, which is then deprotected and “armed” by active ester chemistry.183

Surface-initiated RAFT polymerization (SI-RAFT)

A variety of processes for surface-initiated RAFT polymerization (SI-RAFT) have been described.184–186 Often a preliminary step in SI-RAFT involves some chemical transformation to attach RAFT agent functionality to the surface. Another method involves forming radicals on the surface, e.g., by irradiation or through attached initiator functionality, and initiating RAFT polymerization in the presence of a ‘free’ RAFT agent that becomes surface-bound as a consequence of RAFT polymerization.

Some examples of forming polymer bushes on two-dimensional surfaces by surface-initiated RAFT polymerization include the following.

• Z-connected RAFT agent: BA from silicon wafer.132 4VP from ZnO nanoparticles.187

• R-connected RAFT agent: MMA from stainless steel.188 HEMA,189 CMS,190 or DMAPMAm191 from silicon wafer. NIPAm from glass.192,193 POSS-MA/DMAEMA from poly(dimethylsiloxane).194 SBEMA from cellulose.195 VPBA196 or SDPP197 from a P(St-co-DVB) monolith. MAA from polypropylene.198 HPMAm from carbon nanotubes.199 St from clay nanoparticles.200 Am201 or St202 from iron oxide nanoparticles. HEMA from silica nanoparticles.203

R-connected strategies are the most popular and are more suited for applications that require permanent surface modification. The Z-connected approach affords a coating that is readily cleaved from the surface using “end-group” transformation/removal techniques.

Strategies for attaching the RAFT agent to the surface vary. Sacrificial RAFT agents are often used and generally necessary to provide good control over graft length and dispersity. In SI-RAFT, the RAFT process can become diffusion controlled. This problem can be alleviated by the presence of low molar mass RAFT agent in the polymerization medium. The approach making use of sacrificial RAFT agents will necessarily produce a linear polymer derived from the sacrificial RAFT agent as a by-product. This, being of low molar mass, is usually readily separated. The sacrificial RAFT agent strategy is useful when grafts of a defined length are required and essential when these are of low molar mass. The graft-length obtained in such experiments is defined largely by the concentration of the sacrificial RAFT agent. For example, in grafting VPBA196 or SDPP197 from a P(St-co-DVB) porous monolith, it was necessary to form very short graft (5–10 units) to avoid clogging the pores.

Various groups have modelled surface-initiated RAFT polymerization for both Z-connected204 and R-connected RAFT agents205 with a view to better defining termination processes and their influence on the efficiency of the process. Zhou et al.206 have recently reviewed processes for surface-initiated RDRP with a focus on biomaterials.

Network polymer synthesis

There has been a recent increase in publications on polymer networks formed by RAFT polymerization in line with the growth in applications of stimuli-responsive systems such as dynamic covalent polymers (see Self-healing polymers), porous polymer monoliths or gels (used as chromatographic media,207–210 flow reactors,196,197,211 controlled release media,212 drug delivery vehicles and molecular imprinting207,208,213,214) and coatings.215 RAFT crosslinking polymerization to form network polymers has recently been reviewed.216

It might be naively anticipated, that in applying RAFT to network synthesis, that just as RAFT provides control over molecular weight and molecular weight distribution for linear polymers, it would allow control over the distance between crosslinks and thence of pore size in RAFT-synthesized polymer networks. However, controlling the distance between crosslinks in crosslinking (co)polymerization is more akin to controlling monomer sequence distribution during linear polymer formation; a target that remains elusive in the field RAFT91,92 and RDRP generally.217

The development of network structure for two forms of RAFT agent: (a) mono-RAFT agents, R–SC([double bond, length as m-dash]S)Z, and (b) symmetrical trithiocarbonates (these are ‘Z’-connected bis-RAFT agents, R–SC([double bond, length as m-dash]S)[Z′C([double bond, length as m-dash]S)]n–S–R with n = 0) are shown in Fig. 5.216 The first provides a network with pendant RAFT functionality, the second a network with internal trithiocarbonate linkages.


image file: c6py01849a-f5.tif
Fig. 5 Structure of “sol” formed with two types of RAFT agent: (a) monofunctional, R–SC([double bond, length as m-dash]S)Z (b) difunctional, R–SC([double bond, length as m-dash]S)–S–R.

Covalently crosslinked networks are an important class of stimuli-responsive materials. Often these take the form of swollen gels, commonly hydrogels, which respond to stimuli such as a change in pH, temperature or ionic strength to trigger a change in equilibrium degree of swelling. Polymer networks also find a role in molecular imprinting, monoliths for chromatography or flow chemistry196,197 and in self-healing polymers or covalent adaptable networks (CAN) based on reversible crosslinks.218–222

RAFT polymerization induced self-assembly

Self-assembly of polymers has traditionally involved two steps: (i) dissolution and (ii) microphase separation. The latter step is driven by some change in solvent properties, e.g., by adding a non-solvent, evaporating some solvent or changing the temperature.

A now common approach to forming nano-objects, by block copolymer self-assembly based on RAFT or other RDRP, involves chain-extending a polymer with a second monomer in a solvent chosen such that it is a good solvent for the monomer but a poor solvent for the growing second block, which gradually becomes insoluble. There are, however, many cases where some form of supramolecular order develops as a consequence of polymerization that may also be considered RAFT polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), and which are relevant in the context of preparing stimuli-responsive materials.223

For example:224

• the initialization step in ab initio emulsion and some other forms of heterogeneous polymerization.

• the formation of micelles and other structures when forming amphiphilic copolymers by homogeneous RAFT polymerization.

• the formation of micro- or nanogels by RAFT crosslinking polymerization (e.g., core synthesis for core-first stars).225

• the formation of stars and other structures by crosslinking polymerization mediated by a macroRAFT agent (e.g., arm-first star synthesis).

RAFT (co)polymerization of functional monomers and the “grafting through” approach to stimuli-responsive polymers

In the design and synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers the major role of RAFT polymerization is simply as a tool for the construction of well-defined low dispersity polymers from monomers or macromonomers containing appropriate functionality. These processes can be considered examples of the “grafting through” approach of introducing functionality.

As discussed above, most monomers are compatible with RAFT polymerization in unprotected form. However, selection of polymerization conditions to provide appropriate solubility/compatibility for all of the RAFT agent, the monomer(s) and their polymer(s), particularly in the case of amphiphilic copolymers, is often a challenge and can by itself dictate a need for protection strategies.

In the following sections we will briefly consider thermo-, pH-, redox- and light- and chemical-responsive polymers which are prepared by (co)polymerization of monomers already mentioned in Monomers in RAFT polymerization. We will then discuss RAFT polymerization of several monomers classes that have assumed a special role in the synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers, in particular, betaine (or zwitterionic) monomers, ionic liquid monomers and metallo- (or metal chelating) monomers. Finally we will consider the synthesis of polymers based on monomers designed for post-polymerization modification. A big advantage of the post-polymerization modification processes is that they enable libraries of polymers to be prepared from a common precursor.

Thermo-responsive polymers

In the present context, the term “thermoresponsive” generally relates to the solution properties of polymers that display either a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) such that they phase separate from aqueous solution upon heating, or to polymers with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), which phase separate from solution upon cooling. Most reviews on the subject have a strong focus on materials displaying LCST behaviour.226,227 A relative few detail UCST behaviour.228 Aqueous LCST or UCST values must normally be within the temperature range 10–100 °C to attract interest.

The best known examples of RAFT-synthesized polymers showing LCST behaviour are P(NIPAm) and P(OEGMA).226,229 LCST behaviour is also displayed by many other acrylamide and methacrylamide homo- and copolymers.226 The respective monomers present no difficulty in RAFT polymerization. Other polymers to show LCST behaviour include poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers [formed from P(VAc)],230 P(VCL),231 P(DAEMA)232 and some polymer ionic liquids (see below).233,234 RAFT-synthesized polymers showing UCST behaviour include some based on zwitterionic betaine monomers (see below). LCST values can be tuned with the synthesis of copolymers (block, gradient), by controlling the polymer architecture (stars), even by changing the end groups.235

Much interest lies in materials (blocks, biopolymer conjugates, particles, surfaces) that contain segments showing thermoresponsive behaviour where such behaviour may provide a trigger for therapeutic release.

pH-Responsive polymers

Polymers that are pH-responsive display a change in solubility or conformational properties as a function of the acidity of the medium.236–238 These polymers commonly possess ionizable groups that are pendant to the backbone, e.g., tertiary amino in P(DMAEMA) or pyridyl in P(4VP), which are cationic at lower pH, or carboxy in P(AA), which is anionic at higher pH. Other ionisable pH-responsive polymers are based on amino acid-derived acrylamides239,240 and methacryloyl sulphonamides (47) (Table 5).241
Table 5 Examples of RAFT-synthesized pH responsive polymers
Monomers RAFT agent Comment Ref.
a 2-(Diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(dibutylamino)ethyl methacrylate.
Tertiary amino methacrylatea 6 PEG block copolymers 243
DMAEMA/MMA 2 Compared with DMAEA/MA 244
DMAEA/MA 29 Compared with DMAMEA/MMA 244
image file: c6py01849a-u5.tif 6 Polymer pKa ∼4.5–7.5 dependent on R. Water soluble in ionized form 241
15


Incorporation of acidic or basic comonomers into polymers which show LCST behaviour paves the way for using a pH change to shift the LCST.242

Another class of pH-responsive polymers, not considered here, are those that undergo an irreversible pH-induced chemical transformation.236

Redox-responsive polymers

Redox responsive polymers for biomedical applications have been reviewed.245 An important class of redox-responsive comprises the metallopolymers, which are described separately below.

A second major class of RAFT-synthesized redox-responsive polymers are those that contain disulfide linkages149,246–249 that can be reversibly cleaved by reduction. This includes microgel, hyperbranched or star polymer formed by self-condensing vinyl polymerization (Table 6) or RAFT crosslinking polymerization (Table 7).

Table 6 RAFT disulphide monomers used in-synthesis of redox-responsive polymers
RAFT disulfide monomer Comment Ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u6.tif R = CH3 250
R = H 251–253
image file: c6py01849a-u7.tif 246


Table 7 Crosslinking monomers containing disulphide linkages used in-RAFT-synthesis of redox-responsive polymers
Crosslinking monomer Comment Ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u8.tif Nanogels 254 and 255
Arm-first nanogels 256–259
image file: c6py01849a-u9.tif MMA nanogels 260–262
DMAEMA nanogels 263
Arm 1st star nanogels 161 and 264
Branched polymer as precursor to thiol-functional polymer 265
image file: c6py01849a-u10.tif Arm 1st star nanogels 266
image file: c6py01849a-u11.tif Arm 1st star nanogels 159 and 267–271
Core first star nanogels 149
Nanogels 272–276


Photo- or light-responsive polymers

There are a wide variety of materials that can be considered within the category of light or photo-responsive polymers. The light responsive functionality can be introduced into the RAFT-synthesized polymer through functionality the monomer (Table 8),277 the RAFT agent (Table 9)278 or by post-polymerization functionalization.279 These polymers fall into a number of, not mutually exclusive, classes, which include photochromic polymers, certain electroactive polymers and light-harvesting polymers.
Table 8 Monomers for synthesis of light-responsive polymers
Photochromic monomer Polymerizationa/comment
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b Other naphthopyran monomers also described.285
image file: c6py01849a-u12.tif 48 (2)277
Light induced self-assembly, gold nanoparticles
image file: c6py01849a-u13.tif SI-RAFT287
Photochromic particles
image file: c6py01849a-u14.tif 50-co-MMA (2)285
50-co-MA (2)285
MMA-b-50-co-MA (2)285
MMA-b-50-co-MA (2)286
Photochromic statistical and block copolymers
image file: c6py01849a-u15.tif 51-co-4VP (6)301
Photochromic nanowires prepared by electrospinning
image file: c6py01849a-u16.tif NAM-b-(52-co-NIPAm) (35)302


Table 9 RAFT agents for synthesis of light-responsive polymers
Photochromic RAFT agent Polymer/comment
image file: c6py01849a-u17.tif P(NIPAm)303
Thermo-responsive gold nanoparticles
image file: c6py01849a-u18.tif P(St)-b-P(BA)284
P(BA)-b-P(St)284
P(NIPAm)-b-P(NAM)302
Control of photochromic switching speed


Other light-responsive polymers that are not considered within the scope this review, since the changes induced are most often irreversible, include photo-scissionable polymers, which undergo main-chain280 or side chain photocleavage,20 photo-crosslinkable polymers, which contain various photo-initiator functionality to achieve photo-crosslinking,281 and polymers for photo-lithography, which are typically pH sensitive polymers containing a photo-acid generator.282

In forming light responsive polymers it is important to consider the properties of the thiocarbonylthio group which is itself photoactive and can, e.g., quench florescence or photo-dissociate, necessitating end group removal.283

Photochromic polymers. Photochromic polymers contain functionality that can undergo some form of, preferably reversible, light-induced isomerization to change colour or light absorption characteristics.284–289

Often there is an associated change in the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance or more generally the solvophilic-solvophobic balance for the material so as to change solubility. This can be used cause light-induced self-assembly/disassembly, or otherwise modify polymer properties.290 This response can also be used a trigger mechanism for the delivery of therapeutics.

RAFT-synthesized tails on matrix encapsulated photochromic dyes provide a method of tuning the dye switching speed.284

Light harvesting polymers. There are now many examples of RAFT-synthesis of light harvesting polymers.133–136,291–300 For example, Chen et al. prepared polymers comprising a RAFT-synthesized P(CMS) backbone (prepared with 5), which was then functionalized by Huisgen cycloaddition to have pendant oligomeric π-conjugated chromophores.299

Chemical-responsive polymers

In the present context chemical-responsive polymers show a reversible change in the presence of reagents, which can be introduced to or removed from the system. These reagents include gases such as O2,304 CO2 and NO.
Carbon dioxide-responsive polymers. CO2 responsive polymers can also be considered a sub-class of pH responsive polymers. They find application in various fields,305–307 which include CO2-capture and storage, in CO2 switchable surfactants and in polymersomes with CO2 triggered release.

The most common CO2 responsive monomers are those possessing basic amine, amidine or guanidine functionality.306 These groups react with the carbonic acid formed when CO2 dissolves in water to form the respective ammonium, amidinium or guanidinium bicarbonate salts.

Thus, RAFT-synthesized P(DMAEMA)-block-P(DMA) copolymers have been developed as the basis for CO2-breathing vesicles.308 Dual CO2–O2 responsive P(DEAEMA/PFS) microgels with have been prepared by RAFT crosslinking-copolymerization.309

Other polymers shown to be both CO2- and pH-responsive include the methacryloyl sulphonamides.241 These polymers are notable for having pKas in a biologically relevant range (pH = 4.5–7.4).

In that nucleophilic groups may react with the thiocarbonylthio RAFT agent functionality, polymers are often formed by post-polymerization modification, e.g., using active ester chemistry.310

Nitric oxide responsive polymers. The monomer 53 (Table 10), and derived polymers, react with NO in aqueous solution in the presence of O2 to generate light-sensitive phenyldiazonium groups.19
Table 10 RAFT-synthesis of NO-responsive polymers
NO-responsive monomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerization shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u19.tif PEG-b-(NIPAm-co-53) (8)19


The dithiobenzoate RAFT end of the low dispersity PEG-b-P(NIPAm-co-53) was apparently stable in the presence of the primary aromatic amine.19

Other chemical-responsive polymers. A wide range of polymers have been prepared with functionalities designed to invoke a specific response. These include polymers containing monomer units with, e.g., boronic acid (Table 11, see also Brooks et al.311) or phosphine functionality (e.g., DPPS, Table 12) and glycopolymers (Table 13). Other materials that might be considered here are (typically crosslinked) polymers prepared with molecular imprinting.210 Applications include fluorescent or colorimetric sensors312 and stationary phases for chromatography.
Table 11 Boronic acid monomers
monomer RAFT agent Comment Ref.
a Surface-bound RAFT agent based on the RAFT agent indicated.
image file: c6py01849a-u20.tif 24 Fluoride ion responsive polymers 316
image file: c6py01849a-u21.tif (20)a Monomer used in SI-RAFT monolith functionalization. Monolith for catalyst in flow chemistry 196
image file: c6py01849a-u22.tif 25 Sugar responsive polymers 317 and 318
image file: c6py01849a-u23.tif (24)a Sugar responsive polymers 319 and 320
Monomer used in SI-RAFT to form affinity column 321


Table 12 Phosphine monomers
Monomer RAFT agent Comment Ref.
a Surface-bound RAFT agent based on the RAFT agent 20. b PEGMA-co-MAA macro RAFT agent formed with 6.
image file: c6py01849a-u24.tif (20)a Monomer used in SI-RAFT monolith functionalization. Monolith for catalyst in flow chemistry 196
30 DPPS-co-St potential use in forming catalysts 322
6 DPPS-co-(alkylstyrene) potential use in forming catalysts 323
(6)b DPPS-co-St block used as arm macro RAFT agent in forming nanoreactor by crosslinking polymerization 324


Table 13 Glycomonomers
Glycomonomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b FMA – fluorescein O-methacrylate. c Poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) macroRAFT agent derived from 24. d See Table 34 for structure.
image file: c6py01849a-u25.tif 91-co-54 (24)325
54-b-HEMA-b-NIPAM (6)326
image file: c6py01849a-u26.tif DEGMA-b-55 (43/43H+)327
55-co-NIPAM-b-NIPAM (24)328
image file: c6py01849a-u27.tif 56-co-AEMA-co-HEAm (6)329
image file: c6py01849a-u28.tif 57-co-AEMA-co-HEAm (6)329
image file: c6py01849a-u29.tif 58 (26)259
58-co-FMAb (5)330
58 (6)331
image file: c6py01849a-u30.tif 59- b-AEMA (16)332
PEP-b-(59-grad-DMA)c[thin space (1/6-em)]333
image file: c6py01849a-u31.tif 60 (150d)334


Glycopolymers possess an all carbon backbone and have pendant oligosaccharide groups. They are usually derived by polymerization of acrylic, styrenic or vinyl glycomonomers. The polymers have attracted widespread attention for various biological and biomedical uses with expectation that the polymers might mimic analogous polysaccharides in terms of engendering a bioresponse.313

In that it can carried out in homogeneous aqueous media, at moderate to ambient temperature, with monomers carrying complex functional groups, RAFT polymerization is particularly well-adapted to the synthesis of glycopolymers. Ghadban and Albertin313 have comprehensively reviewed the synthesis of glycopolymers by various RDRP, including RAFT polymerization (see also ref. 314). RAFT and ATRP are clearly the dominant processes for forming such polymers.313,314 The immobilization of glycopolymers on surfaces by various processes, including SI-RAFT, has also been recently reviewed.315

Polymers based on betaine or zwitterionic monomers

Polymers based on carboxybetaine (e.g., CBMMA,240,335,336 CBEMAm337), sulfobetaine (e.g., SBPMAm338–340 SBPMA341–343), and phosphobetaine monomers (e.g., MPC344–347) monomers (for additional examples see ref. 339 and 348) often display UCSTs and can show salt ionic strength-responsive behaviour. These polymers are also used in biosensors for their ultra-low fouling characteristics. The betaine monomers can be polymerized directly by RAFT polymerization (Table 14).349 However, these polymers have also been made by post-polymerization modification of RAFT-synthesized polymers.
Table 14 RAFT-synthesis of polymers based on betaine monomers
Betaine monomera Polymerizationb
a Monomer abbreviation are provided in Fig. 2. b Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. c Hyperbranched polymer.
CBMMA CBMMA-b-BMA (6)335
CBMMA-b-HPMA (19)240
CBMMA-b-EHMA (6)336
CBMMA-co-HEMA-co-MBA (28)c[thin space (1/6-em)]350
CBMMA-co-DMAEMA (24)256
CBEMAm HPMAm (6)337
HPMAm-b-CBEMAm (6)337
SBPMAm NIPAm-b-SBPMAm-b-AMBA (22)340
SBPMAm (6)339
SBPMAm-b-DMAm (6)339
DMAm-b-SBPMAm (12)339
NIPAm-b-SBPMAm (13)338
image file: c6py01849a-u32.tif 61 X = CH3, Y = O, n = 2, m = 3, 4 (2)343
61 X = H, Y = O, n = 2, m = 4 (34)343
MPC BA-b-MPC (33)344
MPC-b-DEAM (6)346
MPC-b-SBEMA (6)346
MPC-b-TMAPMAm (6)347
MPC-b-AMPS (6)347


A library of sulfobetaine polymers with general structure 61 X = H, CH3, Y = O, NH, n = 2, m = 3, 4 was prepared using three different synthetic strategies.343 The (meth)acryates (Y = O) were prepared by direct RAFT polymerization of the sulfobetaine monomers or by modification of P(DMAEMA) with the appropriate sulfone (Scheme 7).


image file: c6py01849a-s7.tif
Scheme 7 Synthetic routes to sulfobetaine (meth)acrylates.

The (meth)acrylamides were prepared by active ester chemistry (Scheme 8). UCST behaviour was found to depend strongly on structure.343


image file: c6py01849a-s8.tif
Scheme 8 Synthesis of sulfobetaine methacrylamides by active ester chemistry from P(PFPMA).

Polymer ionic liquids

The term ionic liquid monomer is often used to embrace monomers comprising permanent ionic functionality whether or not they meet the more generally accepted definition that they exist as a liquid at some temperature below 100 °C. The term polymer ionic liquid is used to refer to polymers that comprise units of an ionic liquid monomer.351,352 The polymers themselves may not be ionic liquids.

Polymer ionic liquids can be prepared directly by RAFT polymerization of “so-called” ionic liquid monomers (62–65, Table 15). Polymer ionic liquids have also been prepared by introduction of the liquid crystal functionality post-polymerization by quaternization of a halo-functional polymer (e.g., P(CMS)353,354) or by thiol-ene chemistry.355

Table 15 RAFT-synthesis of polymer ionic liquids
Ionic liquid monomer RAFT agent Comment Ref.
a MacroRAFT agent derived from 37.
image file: c6py01849a-u33.tif 24 X = BF4 233
Polymer shows UCST behaviour in methanol/water
21 X = Cl 357
Nanogels formed by crosslinking polymerization
image file: c6py01849a-u34.tif (37)a X = BF4, R = C2H5 358
Double hydrophilic block from PNIPAm or PDMAm macroRAFT agents
38 X = Br, NTf2, R = C2H5 359
Polymer is catalyst for Diels-Alder reaction
38 X = Br, R = C4H9 360
NIPAM copolymer shows UCST in CH3CN
37, 38 X = Br, R = alkyl 356
image file: c6py01849a-u35.tif 6 R = CH3, C2H5 Polymer is salt responsive 361
22 R = CH3, CH2Ph Polymerization induced self-assembly in forming block copolymer 362
1 R = C4H9 363
Block copolymer with N-(thiazol-2-yl)methacrylamide. Magnetic properties of derived metal complexes
image file: c6py01849a-u36.tif 21 R = Ph, C4H9 357
Nanogels formed by crosslinking polymerization


Most ionic liquid monomers are (meth)acrylate- or styrene-based and dithiobenzoates or trithiocarbonates used to mediate their RAFT polymerization (Table 15). Xanthate RAFT agents (63) were used to control polymerization N-vinyl imidazolium salts, which are presumed to be LAMs (or IAM).356

The polymer ionic liquids display a range of stimuli-responsive behaviours dependant on the particular structures and conditions (e.g., Table 15).

Self-healing polymers

Various groups have described self-healing polymers or stress relieving polymers. These polymers are networks that comprise a fraction of dynamic bonds, which may take the form of non-covalent supramolecular interactions or dynamic covalent bonds. These bonds allow the polymers able adapt their structures in response to external stimuli which may take the form of heat, UV irradiation or mechanical stress.

In some case the dynamic bonds involve a trithiocarbonate group and the dynamic process is UV or thermally stimulated RAFT.221,222,364–367 In other cases RAFT is simply a tool to construct functional copolymers and the dynamic process is acylhydrazone formation,368–370 imine formation,371–373 Diels Alder reaction,374 boronic acid ester formation,375,376 metal complex formation377 or (multiple) hydrogen bond formation.378

Metallopolymers

Many have studied the incorporation of metal complexes into polymers to provide materials that combine the catalytic, magnetic, and/or electronic properties of metal complexes with the desirable mechanical and processing properties of the host polymers.379–381 This section relates to RAFT polymerization of monomers that incorporate a metal complex (Table 16) or possess metal chelating group (Table 17) as pendant functionality. The section is, in part, an update to that embraced in the review of optoelectronic polymers published in 2011.283 Metallopolymers formed by RDRP methods, including RAFT, and other forms of living or controlled polymerization have also been reviewed by Whittell et al. in 2011379 and by Hardy et al. in 2014.380
Table 16 Metallopolymers
Metallomonomer RAFT agent/comment Ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u37.tif 24, 32 383–385
Loss of control for homopolymer, low dispersity for copolymer with MA and copolymer blocks
image file: c6py01849a-u38.tif 1 386, 387
Low dispersity homopolymer, block copolymers
image file: c6py01849a-u39.tif 1 386, 387
Low dispersity homopolymer, block copolymers
image file: c6py01849a-u40.tif 1 386–388
Low dispersity homopolymer, block copolymers
image file: c6py01849a-u41.tif 9 387
Block copolymer with macroRAFT formed from cobaltocenium monomer (67)
image file: c6py01849a-u42.tif 1 389
Low dispersity homopolymer for conversion <50%
image file: c6py01849a-u43.tif 2, 25 390, 391
MacroRAFT used in block synthesis
Self-assembly of PEO block
image file: c6py01849a-u44.tif 17 392
Triblock copolymer prepared to make responsive vesicles
image file: c6py01849a-u45.tif 2 298
Light harvesting copolymer


Table 17 Metal chelating polymers
Metal chelating monomer Polymerizationa/comment
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u46.tif 68-co-BMA (2)393
68-co-LMA (2)393
Self-healing network formed by cross-linking copolymer with Zn2+
image file: c6py01849a-u47.tif 69-co-MMA (2)377
69-co-BMA (2)377
69-co-LMA (2)377
Self-healing network formed by cross-linking copolymer with Cd2+
image file: c6py01849a-u48.tif (66-co-MMA)-b-70(32)385
Precursor to gold-containing block copolymer
image file: c6py01849a-u49.tif 71-co-HPMAm (149)394
Used in forming platinum drug


RAFT polymerization making use of metal containing RAFT agents139 or metallopolymer macroRAFT agents382 have also been described (Table 18, for additional examples see previous review283).

Table 18 Metallo-RAFT agents
RAFT agent Monomera/ref.
a Monomer polymerized.
image file: c6py01849a-u50.tif OEGMA395
image file: c6py01849a-u51.tif DEAm382


Electroactive polymers

Organic semiconductors. The synthesis of polymers with an organic semiconductor moiety either as a block or as pendant group to the backbone. We also consider polymers with attached dyes for use in light-harvesting, photochromic and some imaging applications under Light responsive polymers above.

Polymers containing thiophene and other conjugated rings such as part of the backbone are not directly available by radical polymerization except in special circumstances. For example, RAFT Ring-opening polymerization provides a route to a rod-polymer with in-chain acene (anthracene) functionality (Scheme 9).396 It is, however, possible to efficiently convert preformed conjugated polymers to macroRAFT agents.


image file: c6py01849a-s9.tif
Scheme 9 Example of RAFT ring-opening polymerization (R = PhCH2, Z = Ph or N-pyrrole).

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) macroRAFT agents are summarized in Table 19. MacroRAFT agents 72–74 possess a P3HT moiety as the Z group. A potential disadvantage is that the P3HT can be readily cleaved from the RAFT-synthesized polymer. On the other hand, macroRAFT agents 75–80 possess P3HT as the R group and thus possess a relatively stable block linkage allowing the RAFT ZCS2 to be removed or transformed keeping the block structure intact. P3HT may also be introduced post-RAFT polymerization as a block397 or a pendant functionality.398

Table 19 Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) macroRAFT agents
P3HT macroRAFT agent Monomera/ref.
a Monomer polymerized. b Use of macroRAFT agent in RAFT polymerization not reported.
image file: c6py01849a-u52.tif St407,408
4VP409
image file: c6py01849a-u53.tif Copolymer410
image file: c6py01849a-u54.tif MMA411
image file: c6py01849a-u55.tif St412
image file: c6py01849a-u56.tif St413
image file: c6py01849a-u57.tif [thin space (1/6-em)]414
image file: c6py01849a-u58.tif St413
image file: c6py01849a-u59.tif [thin space (1/6-em)]415
image file: c6py01849a-u60.tif 2VP416


Earlier, pre-2011, studies on grafting from/to electroactive graphitic nanoparticles (graphene, carbon nanotubes) and fullerene are documented in our review.283 There are also more recent reviews that embrace this topic.399 Fullerene containing polymers have been prepared by RAFT polymerization and various strategies have been used in incorporate the fullerene functionality. Most recent studies involve polymer modification post-RAFT polymerization to introduce the fullerene moiety as a pendant group,400–404 as an end group405 or as some form of supramolecular assembly (Table 20).406

Table 20 Monomers for organic semiconductors
Monomer Polymerizationa/comment
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u61.tif 81 (5)417,418
Precursor to phthalocyanine dye
image file: c6py01849a-u62.tif 82 (1)419
Precursor to transparent conducting polymer
image file: c6py01849a-u63.tif 83-co-St (36)402
Precursor to fullerene functional polymer


Modification of RAFT-synthesized polymers

The installation of functionality into appropriately reactive, RAFT-synthesized precursor polymers provides a versatile method for forming stimuli-responsive polymers. The procedure then requires the preparation of a polymer containing monomer units suitable for efficient modification, to introduce the groups of interest. An advantage of this methodology is that libraries of polymers are then available that differ only in the type of introduced functionality; all have the same backbone structure. The application of this strategy in the context of thermoresponsive polymers has been reviewed by Roth.420 A second advantage is the provision of polymers with functionality that might interfere with radical polymerization or with the RAFT process if a more direct grafting through route was employed. One of the more important applications of this technology is in the synthesis of polymer-drug conjugates. However, there are many other applications.

It is possible to use conventional chemistry for polymer modification either to directly introduce a desired functionalities. For example,

• esterification of polymers with hydroxyl functionality, e.g., P(VA) and VA copolymers (P(VA) from RAFT-synthesized P(VAc))230 or HEMA copolymers,421 making use of N,N-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) coupling.

• halogen substitution. There are many examples of modification of RAFT-synthesized halogen-functional polymers, e.g., of P(CMS) and post-functionalisation by quaternization with a tertiary amine422 or a phosphine,79,423 by reaction with a phosphonate,424 potassium phthalimide,401 use in a Williamson ether synthesis,323 or conversion to an azide (Scheme 10);297 of poly[(4-bromophenyl)(vinyl)sulphane] [P(BPVS)] by Buchwald–Hartwig amination425,426 or Suzuki coupling;425,426 of poly(bromoethyl acrylate) – a variety of processes have been described by Barlow et al.427


image file: c6py01849a-s10.tif
Scheme 10 Synthesis of metallopolymer from RAFT-synthesized P(CMS) by click chemistry.

However, a common approach is to introduce appropriate groups for subsequent transformation by what are often called “click” processes, though the quality of the “click” reactions is in some cases questionable.428 In this context, we consider the RAFT polymerization of monomers for azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar (Huisgen) cycloaddition, monomers containing active ester groups, monomers with latent amino- or thiol-functionality, and monomers with isocyanate or isothiocyanate groups.

Monomers for azide–alkyne dipolar cycloaddition. Many papers have been published concerning the combination of RAFT and azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

Some alkyne-functional monomers and the polymers formed with them by RAFT polymerization are listed in Table 21. In most cases monomers with protected alkyne functionality have been used since the alkyne group is susceptible to reaction with radicals. It was observed that homopolymerization of 85 gave an insoluble (crosslinked) product.429 However, no issues were reported in the case of the copolymerizations reported in Table 21.

Table 21 Alkyne-functional monomers used in RAFT (co)polymerization
Monomer Polymerizationa
a For the case of block copolymer the monomers are listed in the sequence they were used. Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b Side-reactions were observed.
image file: c6py01849a-u64.tif 84-b-PEGMA (1)435
84-co-MMA-b-St (2)436
84 (2)429
84-co-MMA (4)437
84-co-MMA (6)438
84-co-PEGMA (2)439
84-b-PEGMA (2)439
84-b-PEGMA (6)440
Methacrylate multi-block (8)441
Methacrylate multi-block (6)442
image file: c6py01849a-u65.tif PEGMA-b-85 (6)443
[85 (2)429]b
image file: c6py01849a-u66.tif 86-co-EGDMA (27)444
Acrylate multi-block (33)445
Acrylate multi-block (24)446
image file: c6py01849a-u67.tif 87-co-PEGA (24)447
87-co-AA (31)448–450
87-co-NAS-co-NIPAM (31)451
image file: c6py01849a-u68.tif 88-b-St (30)452,453
PTHPA-b-88-co-St (9)454
image file: c6py01849a-u69.tif 89-co-4VP-b-St (24)436
St-b-89455
89 (30)456


Azides also may undergo side reactions under polymerization conditions. In particular, azides are known to undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with electron deficient monomers, such as methacrylates.430 However, these issues and appear to be largely mitigated by conducting polymerization at near ambient temperature or below.431,432 Azide functional monomers that have been exploited in RAFT polymerization are listed in Table 22. Azide functionality is often incorporated post-RAFT polymerization,297,433,434e.g., poly(4-vinylbenzyl azide) was prepared by reaction of P(CMS) with sodium azide in DMF in high yield (Scheme 10).297

Table 22 Azide functional monomers used in RAFT (co)polymerization
Monomer Polymerizationa,b
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b The suffix S before the RAFT agent indicates a surface initiated RAFT polymerization.
image file: c6py01849a-u70.tif 90 (S28)457,458
90 (S6)459,460
90-co-MMA (6)404
image file: c6py01849a-u71.tif 91 (17)461
91-co-St (24)325
91-co-54 (24)325
image file: c6py01849a-u72.tif 92-b-MMA (10)431
image file: c6py01849a-u73.tif 93-co-MA (25)462
93-co-MMA (2)432
93-co-MA (41)432,462
93-co-St (41)432
image file: c6py01849a-u74.tif DMA-b-(94-co-NIPAm)(6)463


Monomers with “ene” or diene functionality. The Diels–Alder or hetero-Diels Alder reaction can be an efficient process for polymer modification or assembly. Ene-functionality is also used as a thiol-reactive functionality.

Even though it seems possible to introduce certain diene functionality (Table 23) by direct RAFT polymerization of the appropriate monomers, the same diene groups can also be produced by post-polymerization modification (e.g., 2,4-pentadieneyl,464 furfuryl465).

Table 23 Monomers with diene functionality used in RAFT (co)polymerization
Monomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u75.tif 95 (17)468
95-b-PEGMA (17)469
95-b-BMA (17)374
OEGMA-b-95 (18)470
image file: c6py01849a-u76.tif 95-co-St (21)471


Allyl functionality reacts only very slowly under conditions required to polymerize methacrylates or styrenes and can be incorporated directly by copolymerization of the appropriate monomers (e.g., AMA) to give a low dispersity polymer (Table 24). With more reactive propagating species, e.g., in AN/AMA copolymerization, it is clear that the allyl functionality is not unreactive such that hyperbranched polymers are formed even a modest monomer conversions.466

Table 24 Monomers with ene or protected ene functionality used in RAFT (co)polymerization
Monomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b Dopamine-Functional RAFT agent derived from 23.476 c Bis-RAFT agent derived from bis(hydroxyethyloxypropyl)polydimethylsiloxane and 24.474
image file: c6py01849a-u77.tif 97-co-PEGA (23b)472
image file: c6py01849a-u78.tif 98-co-St (24)473
98-co-107 (24)473
image file: c6py01849a-u79.tif DMAm-b-AMA (24c)474
AMA SIP with xanthate475


Maleimide “ene”-functionality always needs protection during RAFT polymerization, which can be achieved by forming a Diels–Alder adduct, (Table 24). The maleimide functionality is regenerated by heating the product at >110 °C. However, in unpublished work, we have found that the rate of retro Diels–Alder reaction for furan-maleimide adducts may also be significant at commonly used polymerization temperatures (e.g., 60 °C) and is of particular concern when longer polymerization times are used (e.g., 24 h).467

Monomers for active ester chemistry. A variety of active esters monomers have been used in RAFT polymerization. Some recent examples of (co)polymers are shown in Table 25. For pre-2012 examples consult our previous reviews.29–32
Table 25 Monomers with active ester or similar functionality used in RAFT (co)polymerization
Active ester monomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b Methyl xanthate used. c MacroRAFT formed with 9. d Cholesterol or Pyrene derivative of 6. e Lipid derivative of 11. f The monomer 104 is also a photo-acid generator.
image file: c6py01849a-u80.tif 102-co-LMA (6)478
102-b-TEGMA (6)479
TEGMA-b-102 (6)479
102 (6)478,480,481
image file: c6py01849a-u81.tif 100 (8)482
100-co-PEGMA (17)483
100-co-HPMA (2)484
100-co-(vinyl amide)(38b)485
image file: c6py01849a-u82.tif 101 (24)486
101 (30)487
101-co-MMA (6)488
101-co-DMAm (9c)489
101-co-HPMAm (17)89
101-co-DMAm (6d)490
101-co-DMAm (11)491
101-co-NIPAm (20)492
101-co-NIPAm (25)493
101-co-NAM (14)492,494
101-co-NAM (11e)495
image file: c6py01849a-u83.tif 102 (6)480
102 (33)271
102 (13)310
105-co-102 (135)496
image file: c6py01849a-u84.tif 103-co-MMA (6)488
image file: c6py01849a-u85.tif 104 (127)497
MMA-b-104 (127)498
image file: c6py01849a-u86.tif 105-co-102 (135)496
image file: c6py01849a-u87.tif 106 (1)499
image file: c6py01849a-u88.tif 107(128)500
98-co-107 (24)473
image file: c6py01849a-u89.tif 108-co-St (24)501
image file: c6py01849a-u90.tif 109 (1)499
109 (6)499
109 (13)499


A major application has been the synthesis of biopolymer conjugates. However, many other stimuli-responsive polymers have also been targeted (e.g., dual thermos- and photo-responsive polymers477).

Monomers with latent amino- or thiol-functionality. Monomers containing primary or secondary amino or thiol-groups are not easily amenable to RAFT polymerization. However, this functionality can be present in protected form, e.g., the pyridyldisulfide in 110–112 and the thioacetyl group of 113 are protected thiol-groups, and the tBOC-group in monomers 114–117 and the phthalimido group of 118 are protected primary amine-groups (Table 26).
Table 26 Monomers with protected thiol, hydrazide or amino functionality used in RAFT (co)polymerization


Simple protonation has been shown to provide protection for primary amino-functional monomers. Thus (co)polymerizations of AEMA,502–507 AEAm,508 AEMAm509 and APMAm510–513 have been successfully performed to provide low dispersity polymers with retention of the RAFT end groups. Acetate buffer pH 5 appears to be a suitable polymerization medium.506,513

Protonation (with glacial acetic acid solvent) also allows polymerization of other difficult monomers (e.g., 4-vinylimidazole).514

Monomers with isocyanate or isothiocyanate groups. Several groups have explored (co)polymerization of monomers containing isocyanate functionality (119–122, Table 27).525–527 RAFT polymerization and the thiocarbonylthio group is compatible with isocyanate functionality. However, some care must be taken in selection of the RAFT agent and other components of the polymerization medium such that they do not also contain other functionality that is inherently reactive (such as carboxy).525,526
Table 27 Monomers with isocyanate or isothiocyanate functionality
Monomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer(s) (RAFT agent)ref. b Use of RAFT agents with carboxylic acid functionality provided polymers with bimodal molecular weight distributions.525,526
image file: c6py01849a-u100.tif 119 (6)b[thin space (1/6-em)]525
119 (12)525
119 (15)b[thin space (1/6-em)]525
119 (22)b[thin space (1/6-em)]525
image file: c6py01849a-u101.tif MMA-b-(MMA-co-120) (2)526
image file: c6py01849a-u102.tif OEGMA-b-(121-co-St) (1)529
St-b-(St-co-121) (2)526,530
PEGMA-b-(121-co-MMA) (6)531
St-b-(St-co-121) (27)b[thin space (1/6-em)]526
image file: c6py01849a-u103.tif 122-b-EA (13)527


Bimodal molecular weight distributions were observed in RAFT polymerization of 120 which was attributed to the presence of trace amounts of water in the polymerization medium.

Monomers with blocked (or protected) isocyanate functionality (123–125, Table 28) provide compatibility with a wider range of comonomers and reaction conditions.528 However, these particular blocked isocyanate are thermally unstable and must be polymerized at low temperature.

Table 28 Monomers with blocked isocyanate functionality
Monomer Polymerizationa
a Polymerizations shown as: monomer (RAFT agent)ref.
image file: c6py01849a-u104.tif 123(3)528
image file: c6py01849a-u105.tif 124(3)528
image file: c6py01849a-u106.tif 125(3)528


The RAFT-synthesis of end-functional polymers and the responsiveness of RAFT-functionality to external stimuli

One of the important features of RAFT polymerization is that the end-groups (R and ZCS2) of the initial RAFT agent are retained in the product macroRAFT agent. The overall process simply inserts a polymer chain (Pn) between the R and Z–C([double bond, length as m-dash]S)S groups of the initial RAFT agent (Schemes 1 and 2). In a well-designed reaction the fraction of chains formed by initiation and termination should be negligibly small. The end group fidelity, which equates to the fraction of living chains (L) can be estimated using the relationships given in the section Initiators in RAFT polymerization above. Thus RAFT polymerization is a way of preparing end-functional polymers. The functionality can be present in the R and ZCS2 or can be formed by transformation of these groups post-RAFT polymerization. In this context we discuss processes for transforming the RAFT end group and the synthesis of polymers with functional RAFT agents. Many of examples relate to the “grafting to” approach for synthesizing functional polymers where a RAFT-synthesized functional polymer is covalently attached to a substrate.

In this section we also consider the chemistry of the thiocarbonylthio RAFT agent functionality, not simply as a RAFT agent, but rather in terms of its responsiveness to pH, light and other stimuli.

RAFT end-group transformation chemistry

A discussion of RAFT end-group transformation chemistry is of major importance to any consideration of the RAFT-synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers. End group transformation provides can provide a method of tuning the properties of stimuli-responsive polymers. In other cases, the RAFT end group will need to be removed from the polymers to preclude interference with a desired response. For example, it is known the self-assembly behaviour of hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymers can be influenced by the presence of hydrophobic RAFT agent-derived end-groups,180,532,533 dithiobenzoate groups quench fluorescence and should be removed to avoid interference with optoelectronic properties.

There are a number of reviews that relate directly to RAFT end group transformation.534–539 A summary of the procedures available based on our 2011 review536 is provided in Fig. 6.


image file: c6py01849a-f6.tif
Fig. 6 Processes for RAFT end-group transformation (scheme reproduced with minor changes from ref. 536 © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry). R′˙ = radical, [H] = hydrogen atom donor, M = monomer.

The RAFT thiocarbonylthio group can be considered as a protected thiol group. Many of the methods for RAFT end-group transformation involve elaboration of a thiol that can be formed from the thiocarbonylthio group by reduction or through reaction with nucleophiles (Fig. 7).536,540


image file: c6py01849a-f7.tif
Fig. 7 Reactions of RAFT end-group with nucleophiles with trapping of the thiol end-group formed (scheme reproduced with minor changes from ref. 536 © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry).

There are now many examples of forming thiol end groups from RAFT end groups and forming functionality by radical-induced thiol–ene, thiol–yne or thio–Michael reaction either as a separate reaction step or in a one-pot process.541–549 Other efficient thiol transformation processes include the thiol–epoxy reaction,550 thiol–halide reaction,551 thiol–isocyanate reaction,552 thiol–alkanethiosulfonate reaction553 and thiol–disufide reaction.554

Often processes that provide for complete desulfurization of the polymer are preferred. These include thermolysis,555–558 radical addition–fragmentation coupling558,559 and radical addition fragmentation reduction.180

A particular challenge, which is of some relevance in the context of this review, is in situ end-group removal from polymers in dispersed media. End group oxidation by ozonolysis has been put forward as a possible solution.560

Switchable (pH responsive) RAFT agents

As mentioned above, with appropriate selection of ‘R’, there are RAFT agents that provide control over polymerization of both LAMs and MAMs. However, the level control is less than that required to give very low dispersities and facile polymerization with the full range of monomers.

Switchable N-methyl-N-(4-pyridinyl)dithiocarbamate RAFT agents were introduced mainly to provide a viable synthesis of low dispersity polyMAM-block-polyLAM.43,44,122 These RAFT agents can be switched by use of an external stimulus to give very good control over polymerization of both MAMs and LAMs.44,122 Although a variety of switches may be envisioned most current examples use a pH switch. The RAFT agents are compatible with aqueous media.51 Developments in this area have now been reviewed.561 Examples of their application are as follows.

MAMs: St,43,44,122 MMA,44,122 MA,562 BA,44,122 DMA51

LAMs: VAc,43,44,122,562 NVP44,122,563

IAM: NVC18,44,122,562

It should be noted that macroRAFT agents formed with LAMs and IAM are extremely acid sensitive and it is important to ensure no acid remains when switching to polymerizae a LAM or IAM.

Initial studies focused on the N-methyl-N-(4-pyridinyl) dithiocarbamates.44,122 The N-aryl-N-(4-pyridinyl) dithiocarbamates are more active with more activated monomers (MAMs) in protonated (switched) form and more active with less activated monomers (LAMS) in non-protonated (unswitched) form.561,562 Their activity can be tuned through choice of the aryl substituent.562

Redox-responsive RAFT agents

Thiocarbonylthio-compounds have found use as initiators in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The first reports involved the use of N,N-dialkyl dithiocarbamate derivatives as ATRP initiators.564–567 As mentioned above, these reagents do not provide effective RAFT control over the polymerization of more activated monomers (MAMs) so the control mechanism is most likely through an ATRP mechanism with the thiocarbonylthio-compound behaving as a pseudo-halide initiator.

More recently, RAFT agents such as N,N-diaryldithiocarbamates,568,569 1-pyrrolecarbodithioates570 and dithioesters (1-dithionaphthalates571,572 and dithiobenzoates573,574) have been used in combination with ATRP activators. Under the conditions reported, in that compounds are very effective RAFT agents, the processes should be considered as RAFT polymerizations with ATRA initiation (Scheme 11). Both ISET and OSET mechanisms have been proposed for the ATRA process involving thiocarbonylthio-compounds and Cu(0). It is most likley that all copper mediated ATRA involve a SARA-ATRP (ISET) mechanism.


image file: c6py01849a-s11.tif
Scheme 11 Possible ATRA initiation mechanism for RAFT polymerization.

Light-responsive RAFT agents

There has been recent marked interest in photo-controlled RDRP and, in particular, in polymerizations that can be induced with visible light. Such polymerizations allow for both spatial and temporal control of polymer synthesis.575,576

Photo-RAFT may involve may involve RAFT polymerization with a photoinitiator or photo-redox initiator with generation of radicals only from the added initiator.577 It may involve direct photodissociation of a RAFT agent (without and added photoinitiator or sensitizer). This form of RAFT polymerization should be compared the so-called iniferter method for RDRP described by Otsu and coworkers. As originally described, the process involved polymerization initiated by reversible photo-dissociation of what we now know to be a poor RAFT agent, usually an N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamate.578–580 The method has been reviewed by Otsu and Matsumoto,581 with respect to the literature through 2000, and more recently by Atilla Tasdelen and Yagci.582 When instead performed with a good RAFT agent (e.g., a dithiobenzoate or trithiocarbonate)57,583,584 the dominant mechanism for conveying living characteristics (moleculer weight control) has been shown to be RAFT.57 Recently, Qiao and coworkers60,61,585 have shown that very good control in acrylate polymerization can be achieved with visible (blue light) light irradiation. Xu et al.586 (batch) and Gardiner et al.587 (flow) have investigated photo-initiated RAFT of a wider range of monomers under visible light irradiation. Poly et al. have exploited xanthate as macroRAFT agents and macro-initiators.588 Irradiation with lower wavelength light provides for faster polymerization but also more by-products. Irrespective of irradiation wavelength, there is need to pay attention to the rate of radical generation to avoid high radical concentrations and excessive termination.

Another important method for photo-RAFT polymerization is PET-RAFT. This may involve (a) photosensitised reversible dissociation of the RAFT agent or (b), a photo-electron transfer process with the RAFT agent or photo-ATRP-like initiation. In all cases, when a good RAFT agent is used, polymerization is most likely controlled by RAFT equilibria. Some monomers/catalysts/RAFT agents for which good control was reported include (see Fig. 2 and Table 25 for monomer abbreviations):

Organometallics

 (MMA, HPMAm)/fac-[Ir(ppy)3]/6,65

 MA/fac-[Ir(ppy)3]/(27 or 33)65

 (OEGA, DMAm, NIPAm, St, Ip)/fac-[Ir(ppy)3]/2765

 MMA/Ru(bpy)3Cl2/6589

 (MA, St, DMAm)/Ru(bpy)3Cl2/27589

 (MMA, HPMAm)/ZnTPP/667

 (MA, OEGA, DMAEA, DMAm, NIPAm, St)/ZnTPP/2767

 (MMA, DMAEMA, GMA, HPMAm)/chlorophyll/6590

 (MA, PFPA, NIPAm)/chlorophyll/27590

Organic dyes

 MMA/(Fluorescein, Eosin Y or Rhodamine 6G)/666

 (HEMA, DMAEMA, MAA, GMA, HPMAm)/(Eosin Y)/666

 MMA/pheophorbide/669

 NIPAm/curcumin/33.591

Blocks, multi-blocks, stars and grafts have also been reported.65,66,69,589 The catalyst choice influences the irradiation wavelength and what RAFT agent or macroRAFT agents can be activated.

Electrocyclic reactions of thiocarbonylthio compounds

Certain RAFT agents undergo reversible electrocyclic reactions with dienes (hetero-Diels Alder reaction) or diazo compounds (1,3-dipolar cycloaddition).
Hetero-Diels Alder reaction of thiocarbonylthio compounds. RAFT agents and macroRAFT agents with electron withdrawing ‘Z’ groups have been shown to undergo a hetero-Diels Alder reactions with suitable dienes (Scheme 12).592–596 The process has been developed as a route to block copolymers,595,597–601 graft, star and network polymers594,602,603 and modified surfaces.592,604,605 The method has precedent in synthetic organic chemistry.606 Suitable electron-withdrawing ‘Z’ groups include 2-pyridyl, phosphonate or phenylsulfonyl groups. The reaction may be catalyzed by a Bronsted or Lewis acid, e.g., trifluoroacetic acid or zinc chloride, respectively. However, for reaction in aqueous solution no catalyst is necessary.598 The reaction is thermally reversible600–602,607 prompting a proposal that it might be used to provide a thermally stimulated colour switch600,607 or be applied in reversible block copolymer608 or network formation.602
image file: c6py01849a-s12.tif
Scheme 12 The thiocarbonyl hetero-Diels Alder process.
1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of thiocarbonylthio compounds. Diazomethane undergoes a facile 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with dithiobenzoate RAFT agents and with dithiobenzoate end-groups of polymers formed by RAFT polymerization.609 The process does not require a catalyst. For example, 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate (2), on treatment with diazomethane at ambient temperature (22 °C), provided stereoisomeric 1,3-dithiolanes in near quantitative (>95%) yield.

The process was discovered when attempting to methylate RAFT-synthesized P(MAA) with diazomethane to facilitate characterization.609 A low molar mass RAFT-synthesized P(MMA) with dithiobenzoate end-groups underwent similar reaction as indicated by immediate decolorization and a quantitative doubling of molar mass. Higher molar mass P(MMA) were also rapidly decolorized by diazomethane and provided a product with a bimodal molar mass distribution.

The process is only seen with more active RAFT agents. The trithiocarbonate group does not react with diazomethane under similar conditions. The proposed mechanism is shown in Scheme 13.


image file: c6py01849a-s13.tif
Scheme 13 Thiocarbonyl 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. A = B is an unsaturated compound.609

RAFT agents with reactive functionality

RAFT agents containing a variety of reactive functionalities have been designed to enable efficient polymer modification post- or sometimes during RAFT polymerization. These include RAFT agents with active ester functionality (to allow efficient reaction with primary amino groups), with alkyne or azide functionality (to enable modification by Huisgen cycloaddition), with latent amino or thiol functionality or with ene-functionality (usually for use in thiol–ene or ring opening methathesis chemistry). Ideally these functionalities should be inert to the conditions of RAFT polymerization, to reaction with radicals that are likely to be generated and to direct reaction with monomers or with the RAFT thiocarbonylthio group. However this is not always the case for all of the functionalities mentioned.
RAFT agents with active ester functionality. The major use of RAFT agents containing active ester functionality is in the preparation of other functional RAFT agents rather than mediating RAFT polymerization directly. Nonetheless these RAFT agents can and have been used. Care must be taken in exclude reactive nucleophiles in the polymerization medium. Only examples of dithiobenzoate RAFT agents containing active ester functionality are shown in Table 29. Additional examples are provided in Table S1 (ESI). The active ester functionalities for the examples shown in Table 29 are substantially more reactive that the thiocarbonylthio functionality towards, in particular, primary amines. Thus functionalization, conjugation and surface modification pre- or post-RAFT polymerization can be carried out without loss of the RAFT functionality.
Table 29 RAFT agents for active ester chemistry
RAFT agent Monomer(s)
image file: c6py01849a-u107.tif Methacrylamides: HPMAm610
Precursor490,611–614
image file: c6py01849a-u108.tif Methacrylates: tBMA615 DEGMA615,616 LMA616,617 MMA616 PEGMA616,617 Methacrylamides: NIPMAm616
image file: c6py01849a-u109.tif Precursor191,618–633
Styrenes: 107500


RAFT agents for azide–alkyne (Huisgen) cycloaddition. Alkyne and azide functionality for alkyne–azide 1,3-dipolar (Huisgen) cycloaddition can in principle be introduced through the use of appropriate RAFT agents.596 However, an issue is the reactivity of these groups with radicals, with the monomer(s) or the RAFT agent. RAFT agents containing alkyne functionality are listed in Table 30, those with azide functionality are listed in Table 31. The RAFT agents 129, 130, 132–134–136 and 138 with an unprotected alkyne have been successfully used to mediate polymerization of methacrylates. However, while not especially reactive, alkynes are not inert to reaction with radicals.
Table 30 Alkyne-functional RAFT agents for Huisgen cycloaddition
image file: c6py01849a-u110.tif Methacrylates: AEMA634 APMA635 TESPMA636
Blocks:637
image file: c6py01849a-u111.tif Methacrylates: tBMA615 MMA615 DEGMA615
image file: c6py01849a-u112.tif Methacrylates:638
Styrenes: St639
image file: c6py01849a-u113.tif Acrylates: tBA640
image file: c6py01849a-u114.tif Styrenes: St101
Blocks: St-b-MAH-b-NIPAm101
image file: c6py01849a-u115.tif Blocks: THPA-b-St641
image file: c6py01849a-u116.tif Copolymers: 105-co-102496
Blocks: 105-b-102496
image file: c6py01849a-u117.tif Acrylates: PEGA642
image file: c6py01849a-u118.tif Precursor:643
Vinyls: NVP644
image file: c6py01849a-u119.tif Vinyls: NVP644


Table 31 Azide-functional RAFT agents for Huisgen cycloaddition
RAFT agent Monomer(s)
image file: c6py01849a-u120.tif Methacrylates: APMA635 DMAEMA645,646 MMA646
Acrylamides: DMAm647 NIPAm101
Styrenes: St101,639,646–648 2VP636 4VP646
Blocks: DMAM-b-St647 St-b-DMAm647 St-b-MAH101
image file: c6py01849a-u121.tif Styrenes: St172
image file: c6py01849a-u122.tif Acrylates: BA169
Acrylamides: DMAm647 NIPAm649
Styrenes: S647 NSS397
Blocks: St-b-DMAm647 DMAm-b-St647 NIPAm-b-DMAm650
image file: c6py01849a-u123.tif Methacrylates: MAA651
image file: c6py01849a-u124.tif Vinyls: NVP652,653


Azide-functional RAFT agents have been prepared and successfully used in mediating RAFT polymerization. However, there is evidence that azides may react with electron deficient monomers and perhaps thiocarbonylthio RAFT agent functionality under some conditions.

When using RAFT agents with unprotected alkyne or azide functionality it is recommended to use mild reaction conditions and to keep reaction times short.

RAFT agents with isocyanate or masked isocyanate functionality. The carbonyl azide functionality of 144 and 145 undergoes a Curtius rearrangement to form isocyanate functionality during RAFT polymerization at 60 °C (Table 32). The process has been used to form polymers with isocyanate ends and for RAFT polymerization with concurrent isocyanate formation and reaction.654,655 A low molecular weight amine (benzylamine) or an alcohol (propargyl alcohol) were used as reaction partners for the isocyanate ends. Remarkably, no aminolysis of the RAFT thiocarbonylthio group was observed with benzylamine for the polymerization conditions used.
Table 32 RAFT agents with masked isocyanate functionality
RAFT agent Monomer(s)
image file: c6py01849a-u125.tif Methacrylates: MMA654
Acrylates: MA654
Acrylamides: NIPAm654
Styrenes: St654,656,657
image file: c6py01849a-u126.tif Methacrylates: MMA655
Acrylates: BA655 PEGA655
Acrylamides: NAM655
Styrenes: PFS658


RAFT agents with ene or diene functionality. RAFT agents with norbornene functionality have been prepared and successfully used in RAFT polymerization of methacrylates (MMA) and styrene to form low dispersity polymers (Table 33). Broader dispersities for longer reaction times were seen with MA which was attributed to reactivity of the norbornene in copolymerization. The norbornene functionality can be subsequently used in thiol–ene or ring-opening metathesis processes.
Table 33 RAFT agents with ene functionality
RAFT agent Monomer(s)
image file: c6py01849a-u127.tif Acrylates: EEA, MA666
Styrenes: St654,656,657,666
image file: c6py01849a-u128.tif Styrenes: St654,656,657,666
image file: c6py01849a-u129.tif Vinyls: VAc666
image file: c6py01849a-u130.tif Methacrylates: MMA667
Acrylates: MA667
Styrenes: St667
image file: c6py01849a-u131.tif Methacrylates: MMA659 OEGMA660
image file: c6py01849a-u132.tif Methacrylates: MMA659
image file: c6py01849a-u133.tif Acrylates: HPA661 OEGA661
image file: c6py01849a-u134.tif Styrenes: St662,665
Acrylamides: NIPAm662,663


Ene-functionality that is reactive in radical polymerization must be protected. For example maleimide functionality is usually used in the form of a Diels–Alder adduct. When again deprotected, maleimide end-functional polymers are used in forming conjugates by thio–Michael reaction,659–661 or Diels Alder or other electrocyclic reaction.662,663 Maleimide-based structures have a long-established history in bioconjugate chemistry.664 The protected maleimide chain-end is an ene-functional polymer in its own right and a potential macromonomer in ring-opening metathesis polymerization.665

RAFT agents with latent primary amino or thiol-functionality. While it possible to carry out reaction between substrates containing RAFT agent functionality (e.g., those also comprising active esters) and primary amines, in general, the thiocarbonylthio group and the primary amine are incompatible, and the primary amine functionality must generally be protected in some way. Common forms of protected amines are the phthalimido-group and the tBOC-group both of which have been used in RAFT agents (Table 34).
Table 34 RAFT agents with latent primary amino-functionality
RAFT agent Monomer(s)
31 Acrylates: BA668,669
Styrenes: St669,670
Acrylamides: NIPAm668,669,671 DEAm672 DMAm671
image file: c6py01849a-u135.tif Vinyls: VAc,668,673,674 NVP668,675 NVP copolymer676
image file: c6py01849a-u136.tif Acrylamides: NIPAm677
image file: c6py01849a-u137.tif Acrylates: PEGA678
image file: c6py01849a-u138.tif Styrenes: 60334


Similar considerations apply in the case of other nucleophilic groups. Free thiol functionality also needs to be protected.

Conclusions

RAFT is an extremely versatile process for forming stimuli-responsive polymers. The stimuli-responsive elements of RAFT-synthesized polymers may originate from functionality present in the RAFT agent or macroRAFT agent, the monomers polymerized, or might be incorporated post-polymerization by transformation of a RAFT-synthesized polymer. Many functionalities can be introduced directly with the use of appropriately designed monomers or RAFT agents. In the rare case where this is not possible, there exist many possibilities for modification of RAFT-synthesized polymers post-polymerization.

The aim of this paper has been to illustrate how RAFT process can be applied in this context, by pointing out the features necessary to achieve the desired level of control and providing key references to the now vast literature on this application.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Andrew Lowe and Peter Roth for encouraging him to persist in producing this survey.

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Footnote

Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6py01849a

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