RAFT Synthesis of Acrylic Copolymers Containing Poly(ethylene glycol) and Dioxolane Functional Groups: Toward Well-Defined Aldehyde Containing Copolymers for Bioconjugation

Tailoring Amphiphilic Copolymers for Improved Aqueous Foam Stability

Amphiphilic copolymers of various-molecular-weight (MW) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The first PEG series, poly(ethylene glycol)monomethacrylate (PEGMA, average Mn 200 and 400 MW), contained an -OH terminal group, and the second series, poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether monomethacrylate (PEGMMA, average Mn 200, 400, and 1000 MW), possessed an -OCH₃ terminal group. A total of five PEG-functionalized copolymers contained the same hydrophobic monomer, butyl acrylate (BA), and were successfully reproduced via a one-pot synthesis. The resulting PEG-functionalized copolymers provide a systematic trend of properties including surface tension, critical micelle concentration (CMC), cloud point (CP), and foam lifetime based on the average MW of the PEG monomer and final polymer properties. In general, the PEGMA series produced more stable foams with PEGMA200 demonstrating the least change in foam height with time over a 10 min period. The important exception is that at elevated temperatures, the PEGMMA1000 copolymer had longer foam lifetimes. The self-assembling copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (FTIR-ATR), CMC, surface tension, dynamic light scattering (DLS), as a foam using a dynamic foam analyzer (DFA), and foam lifetime at ambient and elevated temperatures. The copolymers described highlight the importance of the PEG monomer MW and terminal end group for surface interaction and final polymer properties for foam stabilization.

Polymers without Petrochemicals: Sustainable Routes to Conventional Monomers

Access to a wide range of plastic materials has been rationalized by the increased demand from growing populations and the development of high-throughput production systems. Plastic materials at low costs with reliable properties have been utilized in many everyday products. Multibillion-dollar companies are established around these plastic materials, and each polymer takes years to optimize, secure intellectual property, comply with the regulatory bodies such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and the Environmental Protection Agency and develop consumer confidence. Therefore, developing a fully sustainable new plastic material with even a slightly different chemical structure is a costly and long process. Hence, the production of the common plastic materials with exactly the same chemical structures that does not require any new registration processes better reflects the reality of how to address the critical future of sustainable plastics. In this review, we have highlighted the very recent examples on the synthesis of common monomers using chemicals from sustainable feedstocks that can be used as a like-for-like substitute to prepare conventional petrochemical-free thermoplastics.

New Aldehyde-Functional Methacrylic Water-Soluble Polymers

Aldehyde groups enable facile conjugation to proteins, enzymes, oligonucleotides or fluorescent dyes, yet there are no literature examples of water-soluble aldehyde-functional vinyl monomers. We report the synthesis of a new hydrophilic cis-diol-based methacrylic monomer (GEO5MA) by transesterification of isopropylideneglycerol penta(ethylene glycol) using methyl methacrylate followed by acetone deprotection via acid hydrolysis. The corresponding water-soluble aldehyde monomer, AGEO5MA, is prepared by aqueous periodate oxidation of GEO5MA at 22 °C. RAFT polymerization of GEO5MA yields the water-soluble homopolymer, PGEO5MA. Aqueous periodate oxidation of the terminal cis-diol units on PGEO5MA at 22 °C affords a water-soluble aldehyde-functional homopolymer (PAGEO5MA). Moreover, a library of hydrophilic statistical copolymers bearing cis-diol and aldehyde groups was prepared using sub-stoichiometric periodate/cis-diol molar ratios. The aldehyde groups on PAGEO5MA homopolymer were reacted in turn with three amino acids to demonstrate synthetic utility.

Synthesis and polymerization of bio-based acrylates: a review

Acrylates and polyacrylates have been produced massively due to their interesting applications like Plexiglas.

Functional materials generated by allying cyclodextrin-based supramolecular chemistry with living polymerization

Cyclodextrin molecules are cyclic oligosaccharides that display a unique structure including an inner side and two faces on their outer sides.

The influence of gradient and statistical arrangements of guanidinium or primary amine groups in poly(methacrylate) copolymers on their DNA binding affinity

Herein, we report the first gradient guanidinium containing cationic copolymers and investigate their binding ability to plasmid DNA (pDNA).

Synthesis of a polymethyl(methacrylate)-polystyrene-based diblock copolymer containing biotin for selective protein nanopatterning

Synthesis of a polymethyl(methacrylate) (PMMA)-polystyrene (PS)-based diblock copolymer capable of segregating into biotin-containing PS nanodomains within an antifouling pegylated PMMA matrix: effective protein nanopatterning through streptavidin molecular recognition.

Novel DFO-SAM on mesoporous silica for iron sensing. Part I. Synthesis optimization and characterization of the material

The synthesis and the physico-chemical characterisation of a novel solid phase, designed for iron(iii) sorption, are presented. The solid (indicated in the following as DFO-SAMMS) is made with a hydroxamate siderophore, the deferoxamine (DFO), covalently bound on a self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous silica (SAMMS). The data demonstrate that the DFO molecules are bound to the solid material, grafted on the surface and do not enter the silica pores. A new one-pot synthesis is presented in which DFO is dissolved in DMSO, and left to react with GPTMS with stirring overnight. In the same mixture, SAMMS is added to get the final product. The optimisation of experimental conditions of this novel one-pot synthesis is presented, with results indicating that a temperature of 90 °C, for the reaction between DFO and GPTMS, and the use of MCM-41 silica are the most convenient conditions. The kinetics of sorption reveals that the iron uptake is relatively fast, around 100 min at pH = 2.5, and from the sorption profile of iron(iii), the estimated capacity of the product obtained under optimized conditions was higher than 0.3 mmol g(-1). The results found in the present research are very promising for application in real biological samples.

High-yielding sequential one-pot synthesis of chiral and achiral α-substituted acrylates via a metal-free reductive coupling reaction

A general process for the high-yielding synthesis of substituted chiral and achiral α-substituted acrylates was achieved through the sequential one-pot combination of a metal-free reductive coupling reaction followed by an Eschenmoser methylenation. The proline catalyzed reaction of Meldrum's acid, aldehydes and Hantzsch ester followed by methylenation was successful with Eschenmoser's salt in the presence of an alcohol solvent. Herein, we have shown the high-yielding synthesis of privileged building blocks from chiral/achiral α-substituted acrylates and shown them to be very good intermediates in the pharmaceuticals and natural products synthesis.

Facile synthesis, sequence-tuned thermoresponsive behaviours and reaction-induced reorganization of water-soluble keto-polymers

Water-soluble keto-polymers: facile synthesis in methanol on irradiation with visible light at 25 °C, sequence-tuned thermoresponsive behaviours and reaction-induced reorganization.

Keto-Functionalized Polymer Scaffolds As Versatile Precursors to Polymer Side Chain Conjugates

A new methacrylate monomer with a reactive ketone side-chain, 2-(4-oxo-pentanoate) ethyl methacrylate (PAEMA), was synthesized and subsequently polymerized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to give a polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI = 1.25). The polymer was chain extended with poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate) (PEGMA) to yield a block copolymer. Aminooxy containing small molecules and oligoethylene glycol were conjugated to the ketone functionality of the side chain in high yields. Cytotoxicity of the oxime-linked tetra(ethylene glycol) polymer to mouse fibroblast cells was investigated; the polymer was found to be non-cytotoxic up to 1 mg/mL. The ease with which this polymer is functionalized, suggests that it may be useful in forming tailored polymeric medicines.

Living Radical Polymerization by the RAFT Process - A Second Update

This paper provides a second update to the review of reversible deactivation radical polymerization achieved with thiocarbonylthio compounds (ZC(=S)SR) by a mechanism of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) that was published in June 2005 (Aust. J. Chem. 2005, 58, 379–410). The first update was published in November 2006 (Aust. J. Chem. 2006, 59, 669–692). This review cites over 500 papers that appeared during the period mid-2006 to mid-2009 covering various aspects of RAFT polymerization ranging from reagent synthesis and properties, kinetics and mechanism of polymerization, novel polymer syntheses and a diverse range of applications. Significant developments have occurred, particularly in the areas of novel RAFT agents, techniques for end-group removal and transformation, the production of micro/nanoparticles and modified surfaces, and biopolymer conjugates both for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.