In this presentation, we report the direct polymerization of monomer with hydrazide functional groups by aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT). Several examples of hydrazide functional polymers by post-polymerization modification have been reported; however, direct controlled polymerization of a hydrazide moiety has, until recently, yet to be achieved. We investigated the polymerization of hydrazide containing monomers directly by aqueous RAFT at various pH levels. Additionally, through the synthesis of a new CTA, we developed a method for low pH aqueous RAFT (pH &lt; 1). We demonstrate that low pH aqueous RAFT polymerization of acyl hydrazide ethyl methacrylamide and 4-vinyl imidazole – two monomers that are typically difficult to polymerize in a controlled fashion – readily yields polymers with low PDIs. The synthesis of hydrazide polymers by controlled radical polymerization opens the door to new types of dynamic covalent polymer architectures. Furthermore, low pH aqueous RAFT provides access to polymers from new or intractable monomer types.

Aqueous RAFT at pH zero: Enabling controlled polymerization of unprotected acyl hydrazide methacrylamides

254th National Meeting (2017)

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