Strong Anionic/Charge-Neutral Block Copolymers from Cu(0)-Mediated Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Controlled polymerization techniques are advancing, yet synthesizing block copolymers with both charged and neutral segments remains challenging.
• Solubility issues and harsh deprotection conditions hinder direct synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a straightforward and mild method for synthesizing block copolymers with anionic and charge-neutral segments.
• To overcome limitations of existing polymerization and deprotection techniques for amphiphilic block copolymer synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Cu(0)-mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization (Cu(0)-RDRP) on a protected sulfonate monomer.
• Employed mild deprotection chemistry to reveal charged segments.
• Synthesized various block copolymers (BCPs) including amphiphilic, double-hydrophilic, and thermoresponsive types.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid synthesis of block copolymers with high conversions and low dispersities using Cu(0)-RDRP.
• Demonstrated mild and efficient deprotection of sulfonate segments.
• Successfully produced a library of diverse block copolymers with tunable properties.

Conclusions:

• The developed Cu(0)-RDRP method offers a versatile and mild route to complex block copolymers.
• The synthesized block copolymers exhibit self-assembly behavior in aqueous media, confirmed by various characterization techniques.
• This approach facilitates the creation of advanced materials for potential applications in nanotechnology and drug delivery.