Cu(0)-RDRP of styrene: balancing initiator efficiency and dispersity

Abstract

The optimisation of all components within Cu(0)-wire mediated polymerisation of styrene is illustrated yielding well-defined polystyrene with enhanced initiator efficiency and dispersity at higher molecular weights.

Ultra-low volume oxygen tolerant photoinduced Cu-RDRP

“…b Determined by THF SEC analysis and expressed as molecular weight equivalents to PMMA narrow molecular weight standards. Owing to the diverse properties of hydrophobic [54][55][56][57] and semi-fluorinated 58,59 materials we were then interested in polymerizing tert-butyl (t-BA), hexyl (HA, C6), lauryl (LA, C12) and trifluoroethyl (meth)acrylates (TFEA and TFEMA). However, DMSO has been reported as an unsuitable solvent leading to insoluble final polymeric materials and subsequent loss of control.…”

Tailoring polymer dispersity and shape of molecular weight distributions: methods and applications

“…[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] Conversely, broader molecular weight distributions (Đ > 1.4) are oen considered to be a sign of uncontrolled or "failed" polymerisation and necessitate additional optimisation to reduce the dispersity. [33][34][35][36][37][38] However, the dispersity is a key parameter that impacts the physical properties of polymers, since low and high dispersity polymers can exhibit complementary properties and functions. [39][40][41] Hence, being able to tune MWD dispersity and shape allows polymer chemists to control and advance material properties for a multitude of applications.…”

Automatic peak assignment and visualisation of copolymer mass spectrometry data using the ‘genetic algorithm’

“…Comparing methyl acrylate-co-ethyl acrylate copolymers made by two different synthetic chemists using two different and distinct forms of copper-mediated living radical polymerisation (one photomediated, [54][55][56] the other using a copper(0) wire system [57][58][59][60] ), we can draw some simple conclusions about the synthesis qualitatively ( Figure 5). By examining the heat maps of a copolymer with a 50/50 mole% composition side by side, we can see that the copper wire system was more controlled, in that the distribution of the copolymer spectra seems to be less dispersed.…”