Elf Atochem S.a.

Other

Carnegie Mellon University

Jin-shan Wang

Philippe Teyssie

Bruno Vuillemin

Philippe Heim

Philippe Bayard

Krzysztof A Matyjaszewski

Living random (meth)acrylic copolymers, facilely converted into random co(meth)acrylates and block copolymers thereof, comprise the anionic copolymerizates of at least one comonomer A with at least one comonomer B selected from among the (meth)acrylates and maleimides, at least one of the comonomers A and B comprising a (meth)acrylate, in the presence of (i) at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal, mono- or difunctional initiator and (ii) at least one ligand, for example a nonnitrogenous macrocyclic complexant, e.g., a crown ether, or an alkali metal alcoholate.

Anionically copolymerized living random (meth) acrylic copolymers and

Anionically copolymerized living random (meth)acrylic copolymers and

A new polymerization process (atom transfer radical polymerization, or ATRP) based on a redox reaction between a transition metal (e.g., Cu(I)/Cu(II), provides 'living' or controlled radical polymerization of styrene, (meth)acrylates, and other radically polymerizable monomers. Using various simple organic halides as model halogen atom transfer precursors (initiators) and transition metal complexes as a model halogen atom transfer promoters (catalysts), a 'living' radical polymerization affords (co)polymers having the predetermined number average molecular weight by .DELTA.�M!/�I!.sub.0 (up to M.sub.n &gt;10.sup.5) and a surprisingly narrow molecular weight distribution (M.sub.w /M.sub.n), as low as 1.15. The participation of free radical intermediates in ATRP is supported by end-group analysis and stereochemistry of the polymerization. In addition, polymers with various topologies (e.g., block, random, star, graft, hyperbranched, dendritic end-functional and in-chain functional copolymers �for example, of styrene and methyl (meth)acrylate!) have been synthesized using the present process. The Polymeric products encompassed by the present invention can be widely used as plastics, elastomers, adhesives, emulsifiers, thermoplastic elastomers, etc.

(Co)polymers and a novel polymerization process based on atom (or group)

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Jin-shan Wang