Controlling the degree of branching in vinyl polymerization

Chain-growth click copolymerization for the synthesis of branched copolymers with tunable branching densities

A facile synthesis of branched polymers with regulated molecular weights, low dispersity and freely tuned branching densities is reported.

Facile synthesis of branched polyvinyl acetate via redox-initiated radical polymerization

Although branched polymers find widespread applications, the rational design and synthesis of branched vinyl polymers via the conventional radical (co)polymerization of commercially available monomers is still a challenge for researchers in this field.

A direct approach for the expedient synthesis of unsymmetrical ethers by employing bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS) mediated C–S bond cleavage of naphthalene-2-ol sulfides

Synthesis of unsymmetrical ether derivatives using 1-(aryl(alkyl/arylthio)methyl)-naphthalene-2-ol and alcohols in the presence of bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS).

Thermally-labile segmented hyperbranched copolymers: using reversible-covalent chemistry to investigate the mechanism of self-condensing vinyl copolymerization

A thermally-reversible inimer was used to confirm the controlled growth of individual branches during self-condensing vinyl atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).

Synthesis, Functionalization and Reductive Degradation of Multibrominated Disulfide-containing Hyperbranched Polymers

Reductively degradable hyperbranched polymethacrylates with multiple peripheral alkyl bromide groups were synthesized by the azobis(2-isobutyronitrile)-initiated copolymerization of diethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate or oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate with the disulfide-containing crosslinker bis(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)disulfide (2.5–10.0 mol-% relative to the monomer) in the presence of carbon tetrabromide (10–40-fold excess relative to the radical initiator) as efficient chain transfer agent. The alkyl bromide groups initiated the atom-transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate, and star copolymers with hyperbranched disulfide-containing cores were formed. Both the macroinitiators and the star copolymers derived from them were degraded in reducing environment.

Synthesis of branched poly(methyl methacrylate)s via controlled/living polymerisations exploiting ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as branching agent

With appropriate choice of reaction composition and conditions, copolymerisation of methyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate using Cu-based ATRP or GTP methodologies yields soluble branched polymers in facile one-pot reactions.