Nitroxide Mediated "Living" Polymerization of Acrylates and Alkenes
Open Access
Author:
Chiarulli, Paul Eugene
Area of Honors:
Chemistry
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Ayusman Sen, Thesis Supervisor Ayusman Sen, Thesis Supervisor Scott Trent Feldman, Thesis Honors Advisor Alan James Benesi, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
polymer free radical polymerization living polymerization nitroxide alkoxyamine acrylates alkenes
Abstract:
Although a large body of research has focused on the “living” free radical RAFT or ATRP methods for the copolymerization of nonpolar alkenes and polar vinyl monomers, much less is related to nitroxide mediated (NMP) polymerization. The copolymerization of butyl acrylate with the alkenes 1-decene and 1-octene was investigated using a “living” free radical methodology with the nitroxide TIPNO presented by Benoit, et al. Additionally, Al2O3 was utilized to determine the efficacy of Lewis acids in increasing polymerization rate and alkene incorporation outside of uncontrolled radical methods. The polymers synthesized showed a mostly linear relationship between Mn and monomer conversion as well as fairly low polydispersity indices, providing evidence for “living” character of the polymerization.