LIVING/CONTROLLED GRAFTING FROM POLYMER MICROSPHERES

A review is given of grafting-from methods using living polymerizations, with emphasis on grafting from polymermicrospheres using ATRP.

Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine: International Experience and China’s Path

The eradication of poliomyelitis is a landmark achievement in the history of public health, providing strong protection for children’s health. The introduction of the Chinese Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine is a prerequisite and safeguard for the large-scale production and use of domestically produced live poliovirus vaccines, serving as an indispensable component of vaccine safety. This article, based on archival documents, letters, collections of essays, and oral interviews, examines the historical experience of the development of Chinese Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine. It contends that the emphasis on localization and the active engagement in international cooperation are critical factors in the swift introduction of Chinese Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine.

Chemoselective and Living/Controlled Polymerization of Alkenyl Methacrylates by the Phosphonium Ylide/Organoaluminum Lewis Pairs

Chemoselective,living/controlled polymerizations of allyl methacrylate(AMA) and vinyl methacrylate(VMA) with/without methyl methacrylate(MMA) by using the phosphonium ylide/organoaluminum based Lewis pairs(LPs) have been realized.The P-ylide-2/AIMe(BHT)_(2)(Pylide-2=Ph_(3)P=CHMe and BHT=2,6-iBu_(2)-4-MeC_(6)H_(2)O) was demonstrated to be superior by which homopolymers PAMAs(M_(n)=27.6-111.5kg/mol and ■=1.14-1.25) and PVMAs(M_(n)=28.4-78.4 kg/mol and ■=1.12-1.18) and block copolymers PMMA-b-PAMA,PAMA-b-PVMA,PAMA-bPMMA,PMMA-b-PAMA-b-PMMA,PAMA-b-PMMA-b-PAMA,and PAMA-b-PVMA-b-PAMA were synthesized.In the polymerizations,all of the monomers were reacted by the conjugated ester vinyl groups leaving intactly the nonconjugated acryloxy groups.The pendant acryloxy groups attached to the main chain enable further to post-functionalization by the AIBN-induced radical "thiol-ene" reaction using PhCH_(2)SH.The thiolether side group-containing polymers PAMA-SCH_(2)Ph and PAMA-SCH_(2)Ph-b-PMMA-b-PAMA-SCH_(2)Ph were thus prepared.

Living/controlled polymerization of vinylpyridines into sequence-regulated copolymers by Lewis pair

The poly(vinylpyridine)(PVP) based(co)polymers are of particular interest in materials science, due to their multifunctionality and diverse applications. So far, there is no report on the sequence-regulated copolymerization of vinylpyridines(VPs) and methacrylate monomer in one-step manner yet. Here we designed and synthesized a series of guanidine phosphines as Lewis base(LB), which is combined with bulky organoaluminium to construct Lewis pairs(LPs) for polymerization of VPs. The living/controlled polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine(4-VP) or 2-vinylpyridine(2-VP) can be accomplished with remarkable efficiency by such Lewis pair polymerization(LPP), furnishing polymers with high molecular weight(up to 288 kg/mol) and narrow molecular weight distribution(as low as 1.17). Mechanistic studies reveal the interaction of LPs and formation of zwitterionic intermediates, providing solid evidences to support the proposed polymerization mechanism. More importantly, by simply adjusting the LA dosage, this LPP strategy realizes the unprecedented control over the sequence regulation of 2-VP-based copolymers from gradient to block in one-step manner, regardless of the monomer ratio, which greatly expands the versatility of the LPP.

Synthesis of methyl methacrylate star-branched polymer with divinylbenzene as a linking agent via controlled/living photopolymerization

HTEMPO-functionalized central cores were formed with divinylbenzene in ＇＇core first＇＇ method,and the four or five arms star polymers were built via controlled/living free radical photopolymerization.The four arms star polymers were also prepared with controlled/living free radical photopolymerization in ＇＇arm first＇＇ method.The resulting polymers had been confirmed by GPC and 1 H NMR.It showed that the star polymers had low polydispersities and molecular weight（M n） with the 85,000-560,000 g/mol range.

Synthesis of Glutathione Imprinted Polymer Particles via Controlled Living Radical Precipitation Polymerization

A general protocol was described for fabricating uniform molecularly imprinted polymer （MIP） particles via controlled living radical precipitation polymerization at ambient temperature. By adopting glutathione as model template, benzyl dithiocarbamate as iniferter agent, 4-vinylpyridine as monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, it is demonstrated that the polymerization parameters including the iniferter concentration, monomer loading and molar ratio of cross-linker to functional monomer have profound effect on the final particle size and recognition property of the MIP particles. The batch static binding experiments were carried out to estimate the adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms and selective recognition of the MIP particles. The adsorption behavior followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model, revealing that the process was chemically carried out. Two adsorption isotherm models were applied to analyze equilibrium data, obtaining the best description by Langmuir isotherm model. In addition, the MIP particles also could selectively recognize glutathione over similar analogs, indicating the possibility for the separation and enrichment of the template from complicated matrices.

INVESTIGATION OF THE ATRP OF n-BUTYL METHACRYLATE USING THE Cu(I)/N,N,N',N",N"-PENTAMETHYLDIETHYLENETRIAMINE CATALYST SYSTEM

The polymerization of n-butyl methacrylate was investigated using the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization technique with CuBr and CuCl/N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine catalytic systems. Various combinations of catalyst systems and initiators were utilized in order to optimize the polymerization conditions and to obtain well-defined polymers (i.e. controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities). It has been found that the optimal initiator for this system is a chlorine-based initiator, when the catalyst used is a salt in conjunction with the N,N,N',N',N'- pentamethyldiethylenetriamine ligand. Bromine-based initiators tend to result in large amounts of initial termination, leading to polymers with less than ideal chain end functionality, even if CuCl is used as the species to invoke the halogen exchange. Additionally, the effects of the polymerization temperature, species and the initiator structure were determined.

Mechanism study and molecular design in controlled/“living” radical polymerization

This tutorial review summarizes recent progress in the research field of controlled/"living" radical polymerization (CLRP) from Soochow University.The present paper gives a broad overview of the mechanism study and molecular design in CLRP.The mechanism study in CLRP aided by microwave,initiated by γ-radiation at low temperature,mediated by iron,in reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and the mechanism transfer between different CLRP processes are reviewed and summarized.The molecular design in CLRP,especially in RAFT polymerization for mechanism study,and in achieving tailor-made functional polymers is studied and discussed in the later part.

Organostibine mediated controlled/living random copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

The first example of organostibine mediated controlled/living random copolymerization of styrene(St) and methyl methacrylate(MMA) was achieved by heating a solution of St/MMA/organostibine mediator at 100 °C or St/MMA/organostibine mediator/AIBN with various monomer feed ratios at 60 °C.The addition of AIBN significantly decreased the reaction temperature and enhanced the rate of copolymerization.The structure of poly(St-co-MMA) was verified by 1H NMR.The reactivity ratios at 60 °C were determined by the extended Kelen-Tüds method to be YSt = 0.40 and YMMA = 0.44.The ln([M]0/[M]) increased linearly with increasing reaction time.The number-average molecular weights of poly(St-co-MMA) increased linearly with conversion.Poly(St-co-MMA) with expected number-average molecular weight and low polydispersity index was formed.The living characteristic was further confirmed by chain-extension of poly(St-co-MMA) to form poly(St-co-MMA)-b-PMMA.

Ambient Temperature Living Radical Copolymerization of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate with Sodium Hypophosphite as Reducing Agent

A facile, safe and economical reducing agent, sodium hypophosphite（Na H2PO2·H2O）, has been successfully employed for ambient temperature living radical copolymerization of styrene（St） and methyl methacrylate（MMA）. Such effective reducing agent significantly improved the reactivity of low reactive St monomers during the copolymerization, where the reactivity ratios of St and MMA were determined to be 0.50 and 0.36 by Finemann-Ross method. Thus the copolymerizations proceeded fast and showed typical living/controlled features, as evidenced by pseudo first-order kinetics of polymerization, linear increase in molecular weight versus monomer conversion, and low polydispersity index values. Effects of the concentration of reducing agent and the monomer feed ratio on the copolymerization were investigated in detail. Furthermore, gel permeation chromatography and 1H-NMR analyses as well as chain extension experiments confirmed the high chain-end functionality of the resultant copolymer.

Synthesis of Stimuli-Responsive Block Copolymers and Block Copolymer Nano-assemblies

Block copolymers have aroused much interest,and their application has been rapidly expanded.In recent years,our group has committed to exploring synthesis and self-assembly of block copolymers.We have designed and synthesized several new thermo-responsive polymers and photo-responsive polymers by living/controlled radical polymerization(LCRP)and investigated their stimuli-responsive properties.Aiming at convenient and efficient synthesis of block copolymer nano-assemblies,we have developed several methods based on polymerization-induced self-assembly(PISA).Herein,we give a short summary of our research in these years.The aim of this account is to stimulate innovative synthesis strategies of block copolymer nano-assemblies,and promote more scientific research cooperation to face the exciting opportunities and challenges encountered in block copolymers.

Mechanistic Transformations Involving Radical and Cationic Polymerizations

Mechanistic transformation approach has been widely applied in polymer synthesis due to its unique feature combining structurally different polymers prepared by different polymerization mechanisms.Reported methods for the formation of block and graft copolymers through mechanistic transformation involve almost all polymerizations modes.However,certain polymerization processes require extensive purification processes,which can be time-consuming and problematic.Recent developments on controlled/living polymerizations involving radical and cationic mechanisms with the ability to control molecular weight and functionality led to new pathways for mechanistic transformations.In this mini-review,we systematically discussed relevant advances in the field through three main titles namely(i)from radical to cationic mechanism,(ii)from cationic to radical mechanism,and(iii)application of specific catalyst systems for both radical and cationic polymerizations.