AMPHIPHILIC GRAFT-COPOLYMERS AS PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYSTS IN A SOLID-LIQUID SYSTEM

Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of a hydrophobic backbone and poly(oxyethylene) (PEG) side chains were employed as solid-liquid phas e-transfer catalysts (PTC) in the substitution of octylbromide by soli d potassium phenoxide in toluene. A wide variety of structures were sy nthesized via ester substitution of poly(phthalimidoacrylate) (PPIA) o r poly(phthalimidoacrylate-co-styrene) [poly(PIA-co-St)] with amino-fu nctionalized methoxy-PEO (MPEO-NH2). The phase-transfer catalytic acti vity (PTA) of these soluble graft copolymers was studied as a function of the structure of the backbone, the length of the side chains, and the graft density. The graft copolymers bi a high degree of grafting s howed PTA higher; than that of parent PEOs. GPC was used to study the behavior of the graft copolymers in toluene at 90 degrees C. It is bel ieved that the phase-transfer reaction is accelerated in the PEO micro phase.