Issue 38, 2023

RAFT polymerization of an aromatic organoborane for block copolymer synthesis

Abstract

Synthesizing polystyrene-block-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PS-b-PVA) via controlled radical polymerization of vinyl acetate, the traditional precursor to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), is challenging due to the reactivity of the unconjugated α-acetoxy radical. We report the synthesis and characterization of PS-b-PVA block copolymers (BCPs) with tailorable PVA block lengths via RAFT polymerization of an alternative precursor, an aromatic organoborane comonomer BN 2-vinylnapthalene (BN2VN). RAFT homopolymerization of BN2VN (RB) using 2-cyano-2-propyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate (CPDT) is described. Solid-state NMR, ATR-IR, SEC and thermogravimetric analysis reveal significant differences between PS-b-PVA and RS-b-RB. The fate of the trithiocarbonate end-group during oxidative conversion of the C–B side chain to a C–OH side chain was studied; while a hydrated aldehyde (e.g., gem-diol) was hypothesized, conclusive evidence was not found.

Graphical abstract: RAFT polymerization of an aromatic organoborane for block copolymer synthesis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Jun 2023
Accepted
02 Sep 2023
First published
07 Sep 2023

Polym. Chem., 2023,14, 4454-4464

Author version available

RAFT polymerization of an aromatic organoborane for block copolymer synthesis

S. J. Melvin, B. A. Mediavilla, E. G. Ambrosius, Q. Jiang, F. Fang, Y. Ji, T. Mukhopadhyaya, H. E. Katz and R. S. Klausen, Polym. Chem., 2023, 14, 4454 DOI: 10.1039/D3PY00706E

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