Chemistry Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-16-2018
Journal
Macromolecules
Volume
51
Issue
15
First Page
5501
Last Page
5510
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01007
Abstract
The synthesis of poly(ethyl glyoxylate)s (PEtGs) by anionic polymerization was explored. PEtGs are a subclass of stimuli-responsive self-immolative polymers with promising properties for applications as coatings, sensors, and drug delivery vehicles. In this report, a new purification procedure for the preparation of highly pure ethyl glyoxylate (EtG), suitable for anionic polymerization reactions, and the first successful examples of controlled polymerization of EtG are described. n-BuLi, PhLi, and t-BuLi were employed as initiators under different experimental conditions and their behavior was examined using NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and thermal analysis to develop an optimized procedure. As functional alkoxide initiators, propargyl alkoxide was employed in optimization studies and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) dialkoxide was utilized for the direct synthesis of PEtG-PEG-PEtG copolymers. The new polymerization method revealed many features of controlled polymerization reactions, yielding PEtGs with predictable molar masses and relatively low dispersity values.
Notes
“This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Macromolecules, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01007"