Synthesis of Graft Copolymers by Nitroxide Mediated Radical Polymerization of Styrene and n‐Butylacrylate Using Alkoxyamine‐Functionalized Copolymers as Macroinitiators

Abstract

AbstractA simple two step method for the preparation of graft copolymers is described in this paper. For the synthesis of the prepolymers the alkoxyaminemonomers 2‐methyl‐acryli‐acid‐4‐[1‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐piperidine‐1‐yloxy)ethyl]‐benzylester(Mas‐BzEt‐TEMPO) and 2‐methyl‐acrylic‐acid‐4‐{1‐[N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐(1‐isopropyl‐2‐methyl‐propyl)‐amino‐oxy]ethyl}‐benzylester (Mas‐BzEt‐BIPNO) were utilized in radical copolymerizations with styrene, methylmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate and n‐butylacrylate. These copolymers were then used as multifunctional macroinitiators for nitroxide mediated graft polymerization of styrene and n‐butylacrylate. The polymerizations were carried out in bulk at 125 °C.