Functional group distribution and gradient structure resulting from the living anionic copolymerization of styrene and para -but-3-enyl styrene

Adrian Natalello, Arda Alkan, Philipp Von Tiedemann, Frederik R. Wurm*, Holger Frey*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The functional group distribution along the polymer backbone resulting from the living anionic copolymerization of styrene (S) and para-but-3-enyl styrene (pBuS) was investigated in cyclohexane at room temperature. A variety of copolymers with different comonomer contents x(S) = 0-0.84 have been synthesized with molecular weight dispersities Mw/Mn ≤1.12. All polymers have been characterized in detail by 1H NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A detailed understanding of the monomer sequence distribution during the copolymerization was achieved by real-time 1H NMR spectroscopy. This technique permits us to determine the changing monomer concentration of each monomer in stock throughout the reaction. Consequently, monomer incorporation and thus the probability of incorporation can be determined at any time of the copolymerization, and a precise determination of the functional group density along the polymer chain is possible. To demonstrate accessibility of the olefin side chains of the copolymer for transformations, quantitative thiol-ene addition of a cysteine derivative has been studied.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)560-564
Number of pages5
JournalACS macro letters
Volume3
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jun 2014
Externally publishedYes

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