Gj. Summers et al., Synthesis of aromatic carboxyl functionalized polymers by atom transfer radical polymerization, POLYM INT, 49(12), 2000, pp. 1722-1728
The synthesis of aromatic carboxyl functionalized polymers by atom transfer
radical polymerization is described. The alpha -bromo-p-toluic acid (1) in
itiated polymerization of styrene in the presence of copper(I) bromide and
2,2'-bipyridyl affords quantitative yields of the corresponding aromatic ca
rboxyl functionalized polystyrene (2). Polymerization proceeded via a contr
olled free radical process to afford quantitative yields of the correspondi
ng aromatic carboxyl functionalized polymers with predictable molecular wei
ghts (M-n=1600-25 900 g mol(-1)), narrow molecular weight distribution (M-w
/M-n = 1.1-1.40) and an initiator efficiency above 0.87. The polymerization
process was monitored by gas chromatographic analysis. The functionalized
polymers were characterized by thin layer chromatography, size exclusion ch
romatography, spectroscopy, potentiometry and elemental analysis. (C) 2000
Society of Chemical Industry.