Synthesis of linear and starlike polymers from poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate using controlled radical polymerization

The copper‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGM) in solution to produce linear and starlike polymers is reported, using methylethyl ketone as the solvent and a temperature of 80 °C. The ATRP system used was efficient for polymerization of the functionalized monomer without protecting hydroxyl end groups of monomer. The polymerizations were consistent with “living” or controlled processes, as revealed by the linear evolution of molecular weight with conversion. Increasing the [M]0:[I]0 ratio resulted in increasing molecular weights, whereas the polydispersity indices remained low (Mw/Mn < 1.4) even at high conversion. Decreasing the [CuBr]0:[I]0 ratio resulted in lower conversions, slightly larger polydispersities, and decreased molecular weights, likely resulting from a lower initiation efficiency. Polymers were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR; molecular weights of polymers with low degrees of polymerization were estimated by end‐group analysis from 13C NMR spectra obtained using distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and the gated decoupling techniques. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 334–343, 2002 The syntheses of linear and star polymers of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGM) by atom transfer radical polymerization have been reported using methylethyl ketone (MEK) as the solvent and a temperature of 80 °C. The monomer was polymerized without protection of its hydroxyl end groups, and polymerizations were ‘living’ as revealed by the kinetics investigation of the reactions. Molecular weights of polymers were estimated by end‐group analysis from 13C NMR spectra using distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and DECGATE techniques and compared to the data obtained by size exclusion chromatography.