Polymerization of Styrene Sulfonate Ethyl Ester and Styrene Sulfonate Dodecyl Ester by ATRP: Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer Brushes

Abstract

Summary: Cylindrical polymer brushes from PSSE and PSSD have been synthesized by a ‘grafting from’ approach by ATRP in solution. Starting from macroinitiators with 570 and 1 600 repeat units, and 10–100% reactive site density, PSSD brushes with 10–40% grafting density and PSSE brushes with 10–100% grafting density are obtained. The brushes have been characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, GPC‐MALLS, analytical ultracentrifugation, AFM, and TEM.Phase AFM image of a PSSD brush. The image was obtained using a ‘supercantilever’ (tapping mode, mica).magnified imagePhase AFM image of a PSSD brush. The image was obtained using a ‘supercantilever’ (tapping mode, mica).

Synthesis of ω‐sulfonated polystyrene via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and postpolymerization modification

“…The advent of controlled radical polymerization techniques has provided new routes for the synthesis of well‐defined polymer systems. For example, nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization, and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization have been used to synthesize polymers containing sulfonate groups 13–17. These provide a range of options for producing sulfonated polymers when considered in concert with other approaches, such as postpolymerization modification 18, 19…”

Direct Synthesis of Poly(potassium 3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate) Cylindrical Polymer Brushes via ATRP Using a Supramolecular Complex With Crown Ether

“…Strong anionic CPBs have drawn our attention, since they may serve as a model for the study of the counterion distribution, and possible complexes with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and even proteins 13. Although Wegner and coworkers7, 8 reported the synthesis of anionic CPBs by using a protected sulfonated monomer, the further deprotection was somehow problematic and it was hard to get fully ionized CPBs. So we turned to non‐protected sulfonated monomers.…”

“…But the difficulties of preparing such kind of polymers have hindered the study on their properties and further applications. So far, very few examples of CPBs have been reported 1, 4–9. Both grafting‐from4–6 and grafting‐through1, 9 strategies have been used for the preparation of CPBs.…”

Incorporation of poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐N‐propanesulfonic acid) segments into block and brush copolymers by ATRP

“…This is a result of low catalyst concentration (and consequently low radical concentration), and strong electrostatic repulsion between individual brushes because of the presence of the strongly acidic sulfonic acid groups in the shell of the brushes. This repulsion may also help to prevent brush aggregation 30, 92, 93…”