A two-session experiment is described, which introduces undergraduate students to controlled/living radical polymerization as well as post-polymerization modifications. First, the synthesis of well-defined (i.e., with pre-determined molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution) poly(glycidyl methacrylate) is carried out under low-catalyst-concentration atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions. During this first session, the students learn concepts such as polymerization kinetics and catalysis, and practice important characterization techniques such as NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. The synthesized polymer is isolated and kept for further studies. In the second part of the lab, the multiple pendant epoxide groups are reacted with nicotinamide in the presence of acetone to yield heterocyclic pendant moieties, which are fluorescent. The kinetics of the conversion of epoxide is monitored by NMR spectroscopy. The obtained fluorescent polymer solution is used as a “secret” ink, which becomes visible only under irradiation with UV light.

Low-catalyst concentration atom transfer radical polymerization in the undergraduate laboratory: Synthesis of well-defined epoxide-containing polymers and their postpolymerization modification to fluorescent materials

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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