Synthesis of aromatic polyethersulfone-based graft copolyacrylates via ATRP catalyzed by FeCl2/isophthalic acid

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) catalyzed by the FeCl2/ iso phthalic acid system was used for the preparation of novel aromatic polyeth ersulfone (PSF)-based graft copolymers in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), such as aromatic PSF-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate), aromatic PSF-graft-polyme thylacrylate, and aromatic PSF-graft-poly(butyl acrylate). The route consis ted of two steps. The first step included the chloromethylation of aromatic PSF, and the second step involved the ATRP of acrylate monomers using chlo romethylated aromatic PSF as the macroinitiator and FeCl2/isophthalic acid as the catalyst in DMF. Characterization data by gel permeation chromatogra phy, DSC, IR, H-1 NMR, and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed that the gr aft copolymerization was successful. Only one glass-transition temperature (T-g) was observed for aromatic PSF-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate), and tw o T-g's were detected for aromatic PSF-graft-methyl acrylate and aromatic P SF-graft, poly(butyl acrylate). (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.