Synthesis of amphiphilic homopolymers with high chain end functionality by SET–LRP

Abstract

ABSTRACTSingle electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET–LRP) of two amphiphilic acrylates, 2‐methoxyethyl acrylate up to [M]0/[I]0 = 1,000 and di(ethylene glycol) 2‐ethylhexyl ether acrylate up to [M]0/[I]0 = 200, is accomplished with good control of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol at 25 °C using hydrazine activated Cu(0) wire as catalyst, methyl 2‐bromopropionate as initiator, and Me6‐TREN as ligand. The chain end functionality of the resulting polymers has been analyzed by MALDI‐TOF spectrometry to demonstrate the synthesis of perfect or near‐perfect chain‐end functional amphiphilic homopolymers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 294–303