scholarly journals Experimental Design in Polymer Chemistry—A Guide towards True Optimization of a RAFT Polymerization Using Design of Experiments (DoE)

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 3147
Author(s):  
Tilman Eckert ◽  
Florian C. Klein ◽  
Piet Frieler ◽  
Oliver Thunich ◽  
Volker Abetz

Despite the great potential of design of experiments (DoE) for efficiency and plannability in academic research, it remains a method predominantly used in industrial processes. From our perspective though, DoE additionally provides greater information gain than conventional experimentation approaches, even for more complex systems such as chemical reactions. Hence, this work presents a comprehensive DoE investigation on thermally initiated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of methacrylamide (MAAm). To facilitate the adaptation of DoE for virtually every other polymerization, this work provides a step-by-step application guide emphasizing the biggest challenges along the way. Optimization of the RAFT system was achieved via response surface methodology utilizing a face-centered central composite design (FC-CCD). Highly accurate prediction models for the responses of monomer conversion, theoretical and apparent number averaged molecular weights, and dispersity are presented. The obtained equations not only facilitate thorough understanding of the observed system but also allow selection of synthetic targets for each individual response by prediction of the respective optimal factor settings. This work successfully demonstrates the great capability of DoE in academic research and aims to encourage fellow scientists to incorporate the technique into their repertoire of experimental strategies.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Nieswandt ◽  
Prokopios Georgopanos ◽  
Clarissa Abetz ◽  
Volkan Filiz ◽  
Volker Abetz

In this work, we present a novel synthetic route to diblock copolymers based on styrene and 3-vinylpyridine monomers. Surfactant-free water-based reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of the macroRAFT agent poly(3-vinylpyridine) (P3VP) is used to synthesize diblock copolymers with molecular weights of around 60 kDa. The proposed mechanism for the poly(3-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(styrene) (P3VP-b-PS) synthesis is the polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) which involves the in situ formation of well-defined micellar nanoscale objects consisting of a PS core and a stabilizing P3VP macroRAFT agent corona. The presented approach shows a well-controlled RAFT polymerization, allowing for the synthesis of diblock copolymers with high monomer conversion. The obtained diblock copolymers display microphase-separated structures according to their composition.



2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binxin Li ◽  
Daniel Majonis ◽  
Peng Liu ◽  
Mitchell A. Winnik

We describe the synthesis of an end-functionalized copolymer of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) and N-hydroxysuccinimide methacrylate (NMS) by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. To control the polymer composition, the faster reacting monomer (NMS) was added slowly to the reaction mixture beginning 30 min after initating the polymerization (ca. 16% HPMA conversion). One RAFT agent, based on azocyanopentanoic acid, introduced a –COOH group to the chain at one end. Use of a different RAFT agent containing a 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide dye introduced a UV–vis absorbing and fluorescent group at this chain end. The polymers obtained had molecular weights of 30 000 and 20 000, respectively, and contained about 30 mol% NMS active ester groups.



2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Reyhani ◽  
Thomas G. McKenzie ◽  
Qiang Fu ◽  
Greg G. Qiao

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization initiated by a radical-forming redox reaction between a reducing and an oxidizing agent (i.e. ‘redox RAFT’) represents a simple, versatile, and highly useful platform for controlled polymer synthesis. Herein, the potency of a wide range of redox initiation systems including enzyme-mediated redox reactions, the Fenton reaction, peroxide-based reactions, and metal-catalyzed redox reactions, and their application in initiating RAFT polymerization, are reviewed. These redox-RAFT polymerization methods have been widely studied for synthesizing a broad range of homo- and co-polymers with tailored molecular weights, compositions, and (macro)molecular structures. It has been demonstrated that redox-RAFT polymerization holds particular promise due to its excellent performance under mild conditions, typically operating at room temperature. Redox-RAFT polymerization is therefore an important and core part of the RAFT methodology handbook and may be of particular importance going forward for the fabrication of polymeric biomaterials under biologically relevant conditions or in biological systems, in which naturally occurring redox reactions are prevalent.



2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debashish Roy ◽  
James T. Guthrie ◽  
Sébastien Perrier

Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) was grafted from cellulose by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The use of a free chain transfer agent in solution allowed for a better control over graft ratio, chain length of grafted polymer, monomer conversion, and homopolymer formation in solution. An increase in polymerization time or degree of polymerization led to an increase in graft ratio, as expected from a living system.



e-Polymers ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Xu ◽  
Wei Shang ◽  
Jian Zhu ◽  
Zhenping Cheng ◽  
Nianchen Zhou ◽  
...  

AbstractA novel bis-functional reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent bearing triphenylamine (TPA) and bis(indolyl)methane (BIM) groups, {4-[bis(1-carbodithioic acid benzyl ester-indol-3-yl)methyl]phenyl}diphenylamine (BCIMPDPA), was synthesized and successfully used as the RAFT agent to mediate the polymerization of styrene (St). The polymerization results showed that reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of St could be well controlled. The kinetic plot showed it was of first order and the numberaverage molecular weight (Mn(GPC)) of the polymer measured by GPC increased linearly with monomer conversion, simultaneously, the molecular weight distribution of the polymer was also relatively narrow. In addition, the existence of the TPA and BIM groups in the middle of polymer chain was confirmed by chain extension reaction and 1H NMR spectrum. The optical properties of the functionalized polystyrene (PS) in chloroform solution were also investigated. Furthermore, the redox process of the RAFT agent and the functionalized PS were studied by cyclic voltammetry method.



2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Bray ◽  
Guoxin Li ◽  
Almar Postma ◽  
Lisa T. Strover ◽  
Jade Wang ◽  
...  

We report on two important advances in radical polymerization with reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT polymerization). (1) Electrochemically initiated emulsion RAFT (eRAFT) polymerization provides rapid polymerization of styrene at ambient temperature. The electrolytes and mediators required for eRAFT are located in the aqueous continuous phase separate from the low-molar-mass-dispersity macroRAFT agent mediator and product in the dispersed phase. Use of a poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-block-poly(butyl acrylate) amphiphilic macroRAFT agent composition means that no added surfactant is required for colloidal stability. (2) Direct photoinitiated (visible light) RAFT polymerization provides an effective route to high-purity, low-molar-mass-dispersity, side chain liquid-crystalline polymers (specifically, poly(4-biphenyl acrylate)) at high monomer conversion. Photoinitiation gives a product free from low-molar-mass initiator-derived by-products and with minimal termination. The process is compared with thermal dialkyldiazene initiation in various solvents. Numerical simulation was found to be an important tool in discriminating between the processes and in selecting optimal polymerization conditions.



e-Polymers ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Arita ◽  
Sabine Beuermann ◽  
Michael Buback ◽  
Philipp Vana

Abstract Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations of styrene in fluid CO2 have been carried out at 80°C and 300 bar using cumyl dithiobenzoate as the controlling agent in the concentration range of 3.5·10-3 to 2.1·10-2 mol/L. This is the first report on RAFT polymerization in fluid CO2. The polymerization rates were retarded depending on the employed RAFT agent concentration with no significant difference between the RAFT polymerization performed in fluid CO2 and in toluene. Full chain length distributions were analyzed with respect to peak molecular weights, indicating the successful control of radical polymerization in fluid CO2. A characterization of the peak widths may suggest a minor influence of fluid CO2 on the addition reaction of macroradicals on the dithiobenzoate group.



2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
pp. 1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingkai Liu ◽  
Mei Li ◽  
Dengxu Wang ◽  
Jinshui Yao ◽  
Jianxing Shen ◽  
...  

A series of well defined semitelechelic and mid-functionalized poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)s (poly(PEGMA)s) were synthesized through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using thiazolidine-2-thione-functionalized chain transfer agents (CTAs). The thiazolidine-2-thione group was located either at the end or in the middle of polymer chains depending on the different structural CTAs. All polymers were fully analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and GPC, confirming their well-defined structures, such as predesigned molecular weights, narrow polydispersity indices, and high yield chain-end or chain-middle functionalization. The thiazolidine-2-thione functionality located at the end of or at the middle of the polymer chains can react with amine residues on protein surfaces, forming protein-polymer conjugates via amide linkages. The bioactivity of protein conjugates were subsequently tested using micrococcus lysodeikticus cell as substitute. The protein conjugations from the mid-functionalized polymer remained much more protein bioactivity comparing to their semitelechelic counterpart with similar molecular weights, indicating the steric hindrance of the mid-functionalized poly(PEGMA)s lead to the better selective conjugation to protein. The number of polymer chains on the protein surface was additionally evaluated by TNBS analysis, exhibiting that there are less mid-functionalized poly(PEGMA)s linked on the protein surface than the semitelechelic polymers, also supporting the hypothesis that the steric hindrance from branch-structural polymers results in the better reaction selectivity. This synthetic methodology is suitable for universal proteins, seeking a balance between the protein bioactivity and the protein protection by the covalent linkage with polymer, and exhibits promising potential for pharmaceutical protein conjugation.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Imamura ◽  
Shigeru Yamago

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of acrylamide in methanol using dithioester RAFT chain-transfer agents was unsuccessful due to degradation of the end group. However, this degradation was completely suppressed by the addition of rare-earth metal triflates (RMTs). As RMTs are effective for the stereoselective polymerization of acrylamides, RAFT polymerization in the presence of RMTs afforded the corresponding poly(acrylamide)s with controlled molecular weight and tacticity. The conditions allowed the synthesis of high-molecular-weight polyacrylamides with molecular weights up to 168,000, low dispersity (<1.5) and high tacticity (90% <i>meso</i> diad selectivity). The degradation mechanism initiated by nucleophilic attack of acrylamide on the dithioester group was experimentally clarified for the first time. As RMT is a Lewis acid, its coordination to the amide group of acrylamide reduces its nucleophilicity.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Imamura ◽  
Shigeru Yamago

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of acrylamide in methanol using dithioester RAFT chain-transfer agents was unsuccessful due to degradation of the end group. However, this degradation was completely suppressed by the addition of rare-earth metal triflates (RMTs). As RMTs are effective for the stereoselective polymerization of acrylamides, RAFT polymerization in the presence of RMTs afforded the corresponding poly(acrylamide)s with controlled molecular weight and tacticity. The conditions allowed the synthesis of high-molecular-weight polyacrylamides with molecular weights up to 168,000, low dispersity (<1.5) and high tacticity (90% <i>meso</i> diad selectivity). The degradation mechanism initiated by nucleophilic attack of acrylamide on the dithioester group was experimentally clarified for the first time. As RMT is a Lewis acid, its coordination to the amide group of acrylamide reduces its nucleophilicity.



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