Paweł Chmielarz

Simplified electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization using a sacrificial anode.

Simplification of electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization was achieved efficiently under either potentiostatic or galvanostatic conditions using an aluminum wire sacrificial anode (seATRP) immersed directly into the reaction flask without separating the counter electrode. seATRP polymerizations were carried out under different applied potentials, Eapps = E1/2, Epc, Epc -40 mV, and Epc -80 mV. As the rate of polymerization (Rp) can be modulated by applying different Eapp potentials, more reducing conditions resulted in faster Rp. The polymerization results showed similar narrow molecular-weight distribution throughout the reactions, similar to results observed for n-butyl acrylate (BA) polymerization under conventional eATRP. High-molecular-weight PBA and diblock copolymers were synthesized by seATRP with more than 90% monomer conversion. Furthermore, galvanostatic conditions were developed for synthesizing PBA with the two-electrode system.

A Silver Bullet: Elemental Silver as an Efficient Reducing Agent for Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Acrylates

Elemental silver was used as a reducing agent in the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of acrylates. Silver wire, in conjunction with a CuBr(2)/TPMA catalyst, enabled the controlled, rapid preparation of polyacrylates with dispersity values down to Đ = 1.03. The silver wire in these reactions was reused several times in sequential reactions without a decline in performance, and the amount of copper catalyst used was reduced to 10 ppm without a large decrease in control. A poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) diblock copolymer was synthesized with a molecular weight of 91 400 and Đ = 1.04, demonstrating good retention of chain-end functionality and a high degree of livingness in this ATRP system.

Miniemulsion ARGET ATRP via Interfacial and Ion-Pair Catalysis: From ppm to ppb of Residual Copper

It was recently reported that copper catalysts used in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) can combine with anionic surfactants used in emulsion polymerization to form ion pairs. The ion pairs predominately reside at the surface of the monomer droplets, but they can also migrate inside the droplets and induce a controlled polymerization. This concept was applied to activator regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP, with ascorbic acid as reducing agent. ATRP of n-butyl acrylate (BA) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) was carried out in miniemulsion using CuII/tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) as catalyst, with several anionic surfactants forming the reactive ion-pair complexes. The amount and structure of surfactant controlled both the polymerization rate and the final particle size. Well-controlled polymers were prepared with catalyst loadings as low as 50 ppm, leaving only 300 ppb of Cu in the precipitated polymer. Efficient chain extension of a poly(BMA)-Br macroinitiator confirmed high retention of chain-end functionality. This procedure was exploited to prepare polymers with complex architectures such as block copolymers, star polymers, and molecular brushes.

Synthesis of urethane—acrylic multi-block copolymers via electrochemically mediated ATRP

The electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerisation (eATRP) of n-butyl acrylate was investigated under a variety of catalyst concentrations. Poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-polyurethane-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) copolymers were prepared via electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerisation (eATRP) using only 7 × 10−6 mole % of CuII complex. The successful chain extension and formation of penta-block copolymers confirmed the living nature of the poly(alkyl acrylates) prepared by eATRP. In this work, the tri-block and penta-block urethane-acrylate copolymers were synthesised for the first time by using tertiary bromine-terminated polyurethane macro-initiators as transitional products reacting with n-butyl acrylate, and subsequently with tert-butyl acrylate in the presence of the CuIIBr2/TPMA catalyst complex. The results of 1H NMR spectral studies support the formation of tri-block poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-polyurethane-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) copolymers, and penta-block poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-polyurethane-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) copolymers.

Ultralow ppm seATRP synthesis of PEO-b-PBA copolymers

Poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(butyl acrylate) copolymers were prepared via simplified electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (seATRP) utilizing only 1 ppm of CuII complex, which is the limit of a successful well-controlled polymerization. The presented seATRP system works under potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions. The polymerization results showed similar molecular weight evolution while maintaining a narrow molecular weight distribution throughout the reactions. 1H NMR results confirm chemical structure of synthesized diblock copolymers. This ultralow ppm technique is promising candidate for polymerization from nanoparticles, flat surfaces, proteins, and DNA.

Comparison of Hydrolytic Resistance of Polyurethanes and Poly(Urethanemethacrylate) Copolymers in Terms of their Use as Polymer Coatings in Contact with the Physiological Liquid

Abstract PU elastomers were synthesized using MDI, PTMO, butane-1,4-diol or 2,2,3,3-tetrafiuorobutane-1,4-diol. Using the same diisocyanate and polyether reagents urethane segments were prepared, to be inserted in the poly(urethane-methacrylate) copolymers. Bromourethane or tetraphenylethane-urethane macroinitiators were used as transitional products reacting with MMA according to the ARGET ATRP. 1H and 13C NMR spectral methods, as well as DSC and TGA thermal methods, were employed to confirm chemical structures of synthesised elastomers and copolymers. To investigate the possibility of using synthesized polymers as biomaterials a research on keeping them in physiological liquid at 37°C was performed. A loss in weight and ability to sorption of water was determined and by using GPC the molecular weight changes were compared. Additionally, changes in the thermal properties of the samples after exposure in physiological liquid were documented using both the TGA and DSC methods. The studies of surface properties (confocal microscopy and SFE) of the obtained polymers were performed. The structure of the polymer chains was defined by NMR. Possible reasons of hydrolysis were discussed, stating that new copolymers are more resistant and polar biomaterials can be less interesting than elastomers.

Poly(urethane-methacrylate) Copolymers Prepared by the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Methods as a New Material for Hydrophobic Coatings

Abstract The chapter deals with an important reaction mechanism in polymers, the atom transfer radical polymerization. The important concepts of this mechanism are detailed in this chapter. Different block copolymers including polyurethanes can be synthesized by this method and this chapter reviews the advantages.