Fabrication of Structurally Controlled Poly(n-butyl acrylate) Particles byAb InitioEmulsion Organotellurium-Mediated Radical Polymerization. Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Homo and Block Copolymers

Abstract

High molecular weight (HMW) poly(butyl acrylate)s (PBAs) and diblock copolymers consisting of PBA blocks were synthesized by ab initio emulsion polymerization using water-soluble organotellurium chain transfer agents (CTAs) in water. HMW PBAs with an average molecular weight (Mn) up to 5 × 105 and low dispersity (Đ < 1.5) were synthesized by controlling the hydrophobicity of the CTAs and surfactants. The polymerization reached >90% monomer conversion while maintaining low viscosity due to stable latex formation, and diblock copolymers were easily synthesized by adding the second monomer to a latex consisting of macroinitiators. While the presence of a termination reaction has often limited the synthesis of HMW polymers by reversible deactivation radical polymerization, high end group fidelity was confirmed under the current conditions through block copolymer synthesis.