MRSEC Seminar

ATRP and “Click” Chemistry:
Versatile Synthetic Tools for the Design of Poly(acrylic acid) Containing Polymers

Wim Van Camp

Department of Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry Research Group
Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Thursday, March 5, 1:00 pm

Ryan Hall (Nano) 4003

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) are well‐known polymers in a high number of applications because of their pH‐responsive nature, their hydrophylic characteristics and for their interaction with metal ions.

PAA, high tech material
An increasing part of high tech polymer materials introduce P(M)AA as segments in well‐defined polymer structures. These can be block copolymers, polymer brushes, star polymers etc., depending on the desired properties and functionalities. PAA segments are therefore combined with other polymers like polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrene and polyethers. The resulting multi‐segment materials combine the main properties of the individual polymers. This opens up high perspectives for new materials with tailored properties.

Novel technology…
A new synthetic route for polymers containing P(M)AA segments has been developed, opening up opportunities for both new products and new processes for existing P(M)AA‐containing polymers. Controlled radical polymerization techniques such as RAFT and ATRP were used to synthesize well‐defined poly(1‐ethoxyethyl(meth)acrylate) (PEE(M)A).[1‐3] This was demonstrated by kinetic data, control of molecular weight and the presence of a narrow molecular weight distribution. Additionally, working examples demonstrate the synthesis of various (co)polymer structures containing PEE(M)A. PEE(M)A is a hydrophobic polymer and is a precursor for P(M)AA. This allows the preparation of P(M)AA‐containing polymers under hydrophobic conditions. A simple heating step (> 70 °C) quantitatively transforms PEE(M)A into P(M)AA by release of a gas, leading to an “on‐the‐spot” conversion of a hydrophobic prepolymer to a hydrophilic polymer.[4] Further on, the combination of ATRP of EEA and the recently popularized copper(I) catalyzed “click” 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azides and terminal alkynes was evaluated as a method to synthesize amphiphilic copolymer structures, using a modular approach.[5]

E‐mail: Wim.VanCamp@UGent.be
Homepage: www.pcr.ugent.be

[1] W. Van Camp, F. E. Du Prez, S. A. F. Bon, Macromolecules 2004, 37, 6673.
[2] K. V. Bernaerts, N. Willet, W. Van Camp, R. Jerome, F. E. Du Prez, Macromolecules 2006, 39, 3760.
[3] R. Hoogenboom, U. S. Schubert, W. Van Camp, F. E. Du Prez, Macromolecules 2005, 38, 7653.
[4] D. Wouters, W. Van Camp, B. Dervaux, F. E. Du Prez, U. S. Schubert, Soft Matter 2007, 3, 1537.
[5] W. Van Camp, V. Germonpre, L. Mespouille, P. Dubois, E. J. Goethals, F. E. Du Prez, Reactive & Functional Polymers 2007, 67, 1168.

Host: Professor SonBinh Nguyen, Chemistry