An experimental and modeling investigation of nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) of styrene using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) as controller is presented. The objective was to examine the effect of temperature, controller to initiator molar ratio, and initiation mode on conversion, molecular weight and polydispersity development, and also to generate a source of reliable experimental data for parameter estimation and further model validation purposes. Polymerizations with a bimolecular initiator (Benzoyl Peroxide; BPO) were carried out at 120 and 130°C, with TEMPO/BPO molar ratios of 0.9 to 1.5. The effects of temperature and TEMPO/BPO ratio on polydispersity, molecular weight averages and conversion (rate) were studied. Results indicate that increasing temperature increases the rate of polymerization while the decrease in molecular weights is only slight. It was also observed that increasing the ratio of TEMPO/BPO decreased both the rate of polymerization and molecular weights. To investigate the contribution of thermal self-initiation in NMRP of styrene, thermal NMRP of styrene with TEMPO in the absence of initiator was carried out at 120 and 130°C. The results were compared with regular thermal polymerization of styrene and NMRP of styrene in the presence of BPO. It was observed that although the thermal polymerization of styrene can be controlled to some extent in the presence of TEMPO to provide lower polydispersity polystyrene, the polymerization was never as controlled as that obtained by a BPO initiated NMRP. Additional experiments were conducted with a unimolecular initiator and compared to the corresponding bimolecular system with the same level of nitroxide at 120°C, to gain additional insight on the advantages and disadvantages of each system. In addition, the importance of diffusion-controlled (DC) effects on the bimolecular NMRP of styrene was assessed experimentally by creating conditions where DC effects may be present from the outset. The results were corroborated by mathematical modeling and it was concluded that DC-effects are weak in the NMRP of styrene, even in the presence of “worst case scenario” conditions created. Finally, a mathematical (mechanistic) model based on a detailed reaction mechanism for bimolecular NMRP of styrene was presented and the predicted profiles of monomer conversion, molecular weight averages and polydispersity were compared with experimental data. Comparisons suggest that the present understanding of the reaction system is still inconclusive, either because of inaccuracy in values of kinetic rate constants used or because of some possible side reactions taking place in the polymerization system that are not included in the model. This was somewhat surprising, given that papers on controlled radical polymerization, and NMRP in particular, have clearly dominated the scientific polymer literature in the last fifteen years or so.

An experimental and modeling investigation of nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) of styrene using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) as controller is presented. The objective was to examine the effect of temperature, controller to initiator molar ratio, and initiation mode on conversion, molecular weight and polydispersity development, and also to generate a source of reliable experimental data for parameter estimation and further model validation purposes. Polymerizations with a bimolecular initiator (Benzoyl Peroxide; BPO) were carried out at 120 and 130°C, with TEMPO/BPO molar ratios of 0.9 to 1.5. The effects of temperature and TEMPO/BPO ratio on polydispersity, molecular weight averages and conversion (rate) were studied. Results indicate that increasing temperature increases the rate of polymerization while the decrease in molecular weights is only slight. It was also observed that increasing the ratio of TEMPO/BPO decreased both the rate of polymerization and molecular weights. To investigate the contribution of thermal self-initiation in NMRP of styrene, thermal NMRP of styrene with TEMPO in the absence of initiator was carried out at 120 and 130°C. The results were compared with regular thermal polymerization of styrene and NMRP of styrene in the presence of BPO. It was observed that although the thermal polymerization of styrene can be controlled to some extent in the presence of TEMPO to provide lower polydispersity polystyrene, the polymerization was never as controlled as that obtained by a BPO initiated NMRP. Additional experiments were conducted with a unimolecular initiator and compared to the corresponding bimolecular system with the same level of nitroxide at 120°C, to gain additional insight on the advantages and disadvantages of each system. In addition, the importance of diffusion-controlled (DC) effects on the bimolecular NMRP of styrene was assessed experimentally by creating conditions where DC effects may be present from the outset. The results were corroborated by mathematical modeling and it was concluded that DC-effects are weak in the NMRP of styrene, even in the presence of “worst case scenario” conditions created. Finally, a mathematical (mechanistic) model based on a detailed reaction mechanism for bimolecular NMRP of styrene was presented and the predicted profiles of monomer conversion, molecular weight averages and polydispersity were compared with experimental data. Comparisons suggest that the present understanding of the reaction system is still inconclusive, either because of inaccuracy in values of kinetic rate constants used or because of some possible side reactions taking place in the polymerization system that are not included in the model. This was somewhat surprising, given that papers on controlled radical polymerization, and NMRP in particular, have clearly dominated the scientific polymer literature in the last fifteen years or so.

Living radical polymerization has proved to be a powerful tool for the synthesis of polymers as it allows for a high degree of control over the polymer microstructure and the synthesis of tailored molecular architectures. Although it has great potential, its use on an industrial scale is limited due to environmental and economical aspects. Nitroxide mediated polymerization is explored to bring this technology closer to adoption in commercial applications. One of the obstacles encountered using nitroxide mediated polymerization in microemulsion systems is the difficulty in controlling both the particle size and target molecular weight. Due to the nature of the formulation, a decrease in the target molecular weight is coupled to an increase in the particle size. For many applications, it is important to be able to design polymer particles with both specifications independently. Strategies to decouple these two properties and processing conditions required for targeting a range of particle sizes and molecular weights for n butyl acrylate latexes are presented. Furthermore, in an attempt to reduce the large amounts of surfactant typically used in microemulsions, these methods were explored at low surfactant to monomer ratios (0.2 to 0.5 by wt.) in order to reduce the costs associated with excess surfactant and post processing steps for surfactant removal (high surfactant levels also give poor water-resistance in coatings). Stable nanolatexes with particle sizes <40 nm have been obtained by other groups using NMP in microemulsions with SG1 but have done so by using much higher surfactant to monomer ratios (~2.5 by wt.) and at much lower solids content (6 10 wt. %). In this work, molecular weights of 20,000 to 80,000 g∙mol-1 were targeted and stable, n-butyl acrylate microemulsions with particle sizes ranging from 20 120 nm were prepared at a solids content of 20 wt. % using much lower surfactant concentrations. Although numerous studies have shown the effects of process parameters on particle sizes and methods to control the molecular weight, the decoupling of the molecular weight and particle size effect in NMP microemulsions under these conditions has not been done to this extent. In copolymer systems, nitroxide mediated polymerization also provides an efficient method to synthesize well defined block copolymers. Random copolymers are widely used as protective colloids, but the use of block copolymers for these applications has not been well studied. It is unclear what effects do the importance of a narrow molecular weight distribution and purity of block copolymers have on their performance as protective colloids. In order to investigate this, a range of block copolymers with different properties would need to be synthesized for systematic analysis. The direct synthesis of polystyrene b poly(acrylic acid) copolymers of varying lengths and compositions was successful by use of nitroxide mediated polymerization in bulk and solution polymerization. The characterization of these amphiphilic block copolymers was explored by titration and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. / Thesis (Master, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-28 15:43:00.513

Controlled radical polymerization has proven to be a viableroute to obtain polymers with narrow polydispersities (PDI's)and controlled molecular weights under simple reactionconditions. It also offers control over the chain-]ends of thesynthesized polymer. Atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) is the most studied and utilized of these techniques. Inthis study ATRP has been utilized as a tool to obtain differentcomplex macromolecular structures. In order to elaborate a system for which a multitude ofchains can polymerize in a controlled manner and in closeproximity to one another, a multifunctional initiator based onpoly(3-ethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxetane was synthesized. Themacroinitiator was used to initiate ATRP of methyl acrylate(MA). The resulting dendritic-]linear copolymer hybrids hadcontrolled molecular weights and low PDI's. Essentially thesame system was used for the grafting of MA from a solidsubstrate, cellulose. A filter paper was used as cellulosesubstrate and the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose weremodified into bromo-]ester groups, known to initiate ATRP.Subsequent grafting of MA by ATRP on the cellulose made thesurface hydrophobic. The amount of polymer that was attached tothe cellulose could be tailored. In order to control that thesurface polymerization was -eliving-f and hence that thechain-]end functionality was intact, a second layer of ahydrophilic monomer, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, was graftedonto the PMA- grafted cellulose. This dramatically changed thehydrophilicity of the cellulose. Dendronized polymers of generation one, two and three weresynthesized by ATRP of acrylic macromonomers based on2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid. In the macromonomerroute, macromonomers of each generation were polymerized byATRP. The polymerizations resulted in polymers with low PDI's.The kinetics of the reactions were investigated, and thepolymerizations followed first-order kinetics when ethyl2-bromopropionate was used as the initiator. In the-egraft-]onto-f route dendrons were divergently attached to adendronized polymer of generation one, that had been obtainedby ATRP.

<p>&nbsp / </p> <p align="left">The main aim of this study was to design new polyfunctional ligands based on the polypropyleneimine dendrimer&nbsp / <font face="Arial">DAB-(NH</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">2</font></font><font face="Arial">)</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">4 <font face="Arial">referred to as </font><b><font face="Arial,Bold">L1 </font><font face="Arial">in this work, to be used in </font></b></font></font><font face="Arial">copper mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of vinyl monomers. These ligands were synthesized by modifying DAB-(NH</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">2</font></font><font face="Arial">)</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">4 </font></font><font face="Arial">with aromatic and aliphatic substituents on the nitrogen atoms at the periphery of </font><b><font face="Arial,Bold">L1</font><font face="Arial">.</font></b></p>

<p>Controlled radical polymerization has proven to be a viableroute to obtain polymers with narrow polydispersities (PDI's)and controlled molecular weights under simple reactionconditions. It also offers control over the chain-]ends of thesynthesized polymer. Atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) is the most studied and utilized of these techniques. Inthis study ATRP has been utilized as a tool to obtain differentcomplex macromolecular structures.</p><p>In order to elaborate a system for which a multitude ofchains can polymerize in a controlled manner and in closeproximity to one another, a multifunctional initiator based onpoly(3-ethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxetane was synthesized. Themacroinitiator was used to initiate ATRP of methyl acrylate(MA). The resulting dendritic-]linear copolymer hybrids hadcontrolled molecular weights and low PDI's. Essentially thesame system was used for the grafting of MA from a solidsubstrate, cellulose. A filter paper was used as cellulosesubstrate and the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose weremodified into bromo-]ester groups, known to initiate ATRP.Subsequent grafting of MA by ATRP on the cellulose made thesurface hydrophobic. The amount of polymer that was attached tothe cellulose could be tailored. In order to control that thesurface polymerization was -eliving-f and hence that thechain-]end functionality was intact, a second layer of ahydrophilic monomer, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, was graftedonto the PMA- grafted cellulose. This dramatically changed thehydrophilicity of the cellulose.</p><p>Dendronized polymers of generation one, two and three weresynthesized by ATRP of acrylic macromonomers based on2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid. In the macromonomerroute, macromonomers of each generation were polymerized byATRP. The polymerizations resulted in polymers with low PDI's.The kinetics of the reactions were investigated, and thepolymerizations followed first-order kinetics when ethyl2-bromopropionate was used as the initiator. In the-egraft-]onto-f route dendrons were divergently attached to adendronized polymer of generation one, that had been obtainedby ATRP.</p>

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) has emerged as a powerful method of creating polymers with tailored molecular architectures under mild reaction conditions. However, production of these polymers efficiently at an industrial scale will likely require them to be synthesized in the dispersed phase. Three types of CRP are explored, Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization (NMP) and Catalytic Chain Transfer (CCT) to elucidate the intricacies of creating these novel polymer colloids. Compartmentalization in an ATRP dispersed phase system is explored theoretically to understand the effects of particle size and catalyst concentration on the polymerization. The results suggest that there is an optimal range of particle sizes where the rate of polymerization is greater than that in an equivalent bulk system while maintaining both a lower PDI (polydispersity index) and higher livingness. All three factors are desirable in ATRP but generally cannot be achieved simultaneously in bulk. Compartmentalization manifests itself differently in CCT dispersed phase systems, where the segregation of the CCT agents into different polymer particles leads to multimodal molecular weight distributions. Control over the particle size is notoriously difficult for nitroxide mediated polymerization, as it is challenging to decouple an increase in the particle size with an increase in target molecular weight using a two stage emulsion polymerization approach. This often leads to colloidally unstable latexes for low molecular weight, high solids conditions which are the result of superswelling. We offer several strategies to minimize this problem and create colloidally stable, high solids, n-butyl acrylate latexes by NMP with moderate to high molecular weight targets (>70 kg/mol). Using this synergy between target molecular weight and particle size, high solids (>40 wt.%), high molecular weight (<200 kg/mol) microemulsions (~20 nm) of methyl methacrylate-co-styrene were prepared. Finally, the monomer type and nucleation mechanisms also play a role in determining the particle size distribution in NMP emulsion systems. Using n-butyl methacrylate in emulsion with surfactant concentrations above the critical micelle concentration yields latexes with bimodal particle size distributions. However a surfactant-free approach allows monomodal latexes to be created. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-12-03 13:30:15.346

<p>&nbsp / </p> <p align="left">The main aim of this study was to design new polyfunctional ligands based on the polypropyleneimine dendrimer&nbsp / <font face="Arial">DAB-(NH</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">2</font></font><font face="Arial">)</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">4 <font face="Arial">referred to as </font><b><font face="Arial,Bold">L1 </font><font face="Arial">in this work, to be used in </font></b></font></font><font face="Arial">copper mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of vinyl monomers. These ligands were synthesized by modifying DAB-(NH</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">2</font></font><font face="Arial">)</font><font face="Arial" size="1"><font face="Arial" size="1">4 </font></font><font face="Arial">with aromatic and aliphatic substituents on the nitrogen atoms at the periphery of </font><b><font face="Arial,Bold">L1</font><font face="Arial">.</font></b></p>

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / A variety of nitrogen based dendritic ligands have been synthesized and used in copper mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) of MMA. These ligands were derived from the commercially available Generation 1 polypropyleneimine dendrimer DAB-(NH2)4. The first set of ligands was synthesized by reacting DAB-(NH2)4 with aromatic aldehydes such as 2-pyridinecarboxyaldhyde and 4-t-butyl benzaldehyde to form imine functionalized dendrimers. Analogous secondary amine functionalized dendrimers were also synthesized by reducing the abovementioned imine functionalized dendrimers using sodium borohydride. The ligands produced were characterized by 13C / 1H NMR, and infra-red spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis to confirm its structure. The ligands were then used in copper mediated ATRP of MMA. The resulting polymer solutions were analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) to monitor the monomer conversion while the isolated polymers were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for molecular weight determination. Results showed that the primary and secondary amine and imine dendritic ligands were not efficient in promoting ATRP reactions. This led to the modification of DAB-(NH2)4 using methyl methacrylate to replace the peripheral amino groups of the DAB-(NH2)4 with tertiary amine groups. A second generation tertiary amine dendrimer was also synthesized in a similar fashion. The ligands obtained were then characterized using 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The tertiary amine dendrimers were used in copper mediated ATRP of MMA. The polymerization medium was analyzed over time using GC to monitor monomer conversion while GPC was used for molecular weight determination of the resulting polymers. The results obtained using the methyl methacrylate modified ligands indicated that in the case of MMA polymerization, these ligands essentially conformed to the requirements of a good ATRP system. However in the preliminary studies, when employed in copper mediated ATRP of styrene, these ligands did not perform well. Further investigation is needed to improve the performance of these ligands in styrene polymerization under ATRP conditions. / South Africa

1,8-bis(phenylimino)-3,6-ditertbutyl-carbazole is synthesized and characterized, which can be complexed with copper(II) halide by deprotonation and transmetallation. The resulting copper complexes enable to polymerize MMA through RATRP process.