Polyacrylates Derived from Biobased Ethyl Lactate Solvent via SET-LRP

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Green Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Alkyl lactate ester acrylates represent a class of biobased monomers with potential applications.
• Living radical polymerization (LRP) techniques are crucial for controlled polymer synthesis.
• Developing sustainable polymerization methods is a key goal in polymer science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the precise synthesis of polymers from alkyl lactate ester acrylates for the first time.
• To establish a green methodology for the LRP of these biobased monomers.
• To prepare and characterize novel biobased block copolymers and their self-assembly behavior.

Main Methods:

• Cu(0) wire-catalyzed single electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) in alcoholic solvents.
• Polymerization of ethyl lactate acrylate (ELA) and homologous structures.
• Characterization using kinetic studies, molecular weight analysis, and chain-end functionality determination (MALDI-TOF).
• Preparation of block copolymers and investigation of self-assembly using fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• Successful controlled LRP of alkyl lactate ester acrylates was achieved using SET-LRP in alcohols at 25 °C.
• Excellent control over molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and chain-end functionality was demonstrated.
• Aqueous ethyl lactate mixtures proved more suitable than pure ethyl lactate for mediating the SET-LRP process.
• Novel biobased block copolymers were synthesized, exhibiting self-assembly into stable micelles with a chiral lactic acid-derived core in water.

Conclusions:

• Cu(0) wire-catalyzed SET-LRP provides a green and efficient method for polymerizing biobased alkyl lactate ester acrylates.
• The developed method allows for precise control over polymer architecture and enables the synthesis of advanced block copolymers.
• The resulting biobased block copolymers demonstrate promising self-assembly properties, forming well-defined nanostructures in aqueous media.