writer：Shanshan Chen, Liman Hou, Qiliao Wang, Dewen Dong and Ning Zhang
keywords：Lewis Pair-Mediated Polymerization, Molecular Brushes
source：期刊
specific source：Polymer Chemistry
Issue time：2018年

We demonstrate the first application of Lewis pair-mediated polymerization (LPP) in the efficient synthesis of cylindrical molecular brushes bearing poly(methyl methacrylate) and polylactone side chains. Poly(N-heterocyclic ole?n) (poly(NHO)) as a macroinitiator precursor was firstly prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) of N-vinylimidazolium iodide and the successive deprotonation in the presence of a strong base. Poly(NHO) together with Al(C6F5)3 can jointly promote the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and δ-valerolactone, leading to the formation of PMMA and polylactone side chains along the backbone via grafting-from approach. NMR, GPC, AFM characterization and polymerization dynamic investigation indicate the successful formation of side chains and the resulted stretched conformation of polymer backbone. DSC characterization reveals that molecular brushes have a higher glass transition temperature than their linear counterpart because of the branched architecture of molecular brushes. The current strategy represents a new avenue for the application of LPP and provides potential in the synthesis of polymers with well-defined topological structures.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/py/c8py01257a#!divCitation