Controlled Radical Polymerization of Acrylates and Isocyanides Installs Degradable Functionality into Novel Copolymers

Lejla Čamdžić, Erin E. Stache

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Installing ketones into a polymer backbone is a known method for introducing photodegradability into polymers; however, most current methods are limited to ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymerization. Here we use isocyanides in place of carbon monoxide in a copolymerization strategy to access degradable nonalternating poly(ketones) that either maintain or enhance the thermal properties. A cobalt-mediated radical polymerization of acrylates and isocyanides synthesizes nonalternating poly(acrylate-co-isocyanide) copolymers with tunable incorporation using monomer feed ratios. The kinetic product of the polymerization is a dynamic β-imine ester that tautomerizes to the β-enamine ester. Hydrolysis of this copolymer affords a third copolymer microstructure─the elusive nonalternating poly(ketone)─from a single copolymerization strategy. Analysis of the copolymer properties demonstrates tunable thermal properties with the degree of incorporation. Finally, we show that poly(acrylate-co-isocyanide) and poly(acrylate-co-ketone) are photodegradable with 390 nm light, enabling chain cleavage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)20311-20318
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume145
Issue number37
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 20 2023
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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