Alternating Copolymers of Methyl Acrylate with Isobutene and Isobutyl Vinyl EtherUsing ATRP

摘要

It is reported that atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) can be usedsuccessfully to obtain copolymers between donor monomers such as isobutene or vinyl ether, and acceptor monomers such as acrylic esters, in conjunction with an alkyl halide R-X (X=Cl or Br) as an initiator and a transition metal species complexed by suitable ligand e.g. CuX/2,2'-bipyridine as a catalyst. This polymerization system affords a well-defined polymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn approx. 1.5) at 50 deg C reaction temperature. Experimental data indicate that these copolymers have an alternating structure. The alternating copolymer of isobutene with methyl acrylate was shown to be an elastomer having a preponderant syndiotactic structure and a low Tg (approx. -30 deg C).