Synthesis of alpha,omega-macrozwitterionic polymers. End group analysis bySEC

A series of macrozwitterionic polymers have been prepared by anionic polyme risation using 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl-lithium (DMPLi) as the initi ator and 1,3-propanesultone as the terminating agent. Some observations are made on the problems associated with the synthesis of these materials, esp ecially concerning the use of ethereal solvents and the implications these solvents have for the efficiency of the end-functionalisation reaction. Fur thermore, we demonstrate that size exclusion chromatography of the sultone- terminated polymer not only allows molecular weight determination but also allows analysis of the yield of the end group functionalisation reaction at molecular weights up to 50,000 g mol(-1). At molecular weights of this mag nitude, end group analysis by traditional methods such as NMR, IR, elementa l analysis and even MALDI-MS would be of limited use. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.