A novel monomer was synthesized by reacting 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with 1-pyrenyl isocyanate, which was generated in situ by treating 1-amino pyrene with triphosgene. The structure of the monomer was confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The monomer was polymerized using the RAFT chain transfer agent S-dodecyl-S'-(a,a'-dimethyl-a''-acetic acid)trithiocarbonate (DDMAT) in DMF at 85 oC (Figure 1). NMR spectra showed the polymerization proceeded to a 79% conversion after 4 h. The polymer was precipitated from cold ether and the number average molecular weight of the polymer was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to be 4.3�104 g/mol with a PDI of 1.6. The synthesis of fluorescent gels using this polymer is currently under investigation.

Synthesis of a fluorescent polymethacrylate-based monomer by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

246th National Meeting (2013)

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