title: Synthesis of Michael Acceptor Ionomers of Poly(4-Sulfonated Styrene-co-Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Acrylate).
abstract: Ionomers containing sodium 4-styrene sulfonate (4SS) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGA) were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymerization was mediated by 1-phenylethyl dithiobenzoate chain transfer agent in a dimethylformamide/water solvent system. Well-defined copolymers of pPEGA-co-4SS were produced with molecular weights ranging from 10 kDa to 40 kDa and polydispersity indices (PDIs) of 1.06-1.18 by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) against monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) standards. Post polymerization, the dithioester was reduced and trapped in situ with divinyl sulfone to produce a well-defined, semitelechelic pPEGA-co-4SS Michael acceptor polymer. UV-vis, infrared, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the integrity of the polymer backbone was maintained and that the vinyl sulfone was successfully incorporated at the chain end.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569.
authors.forename: Steevens N S
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Alconcel
authors.forename: Gregory N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Heather D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Maynard