n-Butyl acrylate (BA) was polymerized by group transfer polymerization (GTP) using 1-methoxy-1-triisopropylsiloxy-2-methyl-1-propene (MTSi-Pr) as an initiator and Br�nsted acid of 1-[bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)methyl]-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzene (C6F5CHTf2) as an organocatalyst at room temperature. The polymerization of BA initiated by MTSi-Pr proceeded in a living manner to produce poly(n-butyl acrylate)s (PBA) with predictable molecular weight (Mn) up to 147,200 g mol-1 and narrow polydispersity (Mw/Mn). The living nature of the polymerization was further confirmed by kinetic study and post polymerization experiment. MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed that the molecular weight of the 2-methoxcarbonyloprop-2-yl group and a hydrogen atom at both were in perfect agreement with that of PBA methoxy chain end showing that the polymerization proceeded without any side reactions. In addition, the block copolymerization of BA and methyl acrylate (MA) successfully proceeded to afford PBA-b-PMA with controlled Mn and low Mw/Mn.

Group transfer polymerization of acrylates mediated by a super BrØnsted acid as an organocatalyst

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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