Polymer Science Faculty Research

Title

Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polyacrylates by a Chloroinimer Approach

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-20-2010

Abstract

(2-Chloro-2-alkoxycarbonyl)ethyl acrylates with methyl, dodecyl, perfluoroalkyl, siloxane, oligooxyethylene, and mesogenic ester substituents were synthesized as inimers for self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) to produce hyperbranched polyacrylates. The inimers were polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization under a variety of conditions to produce soluble polymers with broad polydispersities (up to PDI = 5.24) characteristic of hyperbranched polymers, although the isolated polymers had narrower polydispersities. The molecular weight distribution was followed as a function of time and inimer conversion for the polymerization of the mesogenic inimer. The first-order inimer conversion was linear with time. The buildup of a hyperbranched structure during the SCVP was confirmed by comparison of the error in the GPCPSt-determined molecular weights of the mesogenic polymer with those of the corresponding linear, three-arm star, and comb architectures.

Publication Title

Macromolecules

Volume

43

Issue

12

First Page

5222

Last Page

5232

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