A New Living Emulsion Polymerization Mechanism:  Episulfide Anionic Polymerization

• Published in: Macromolecules Vol. 35; no. 23; pp. 8688 - 8693
• Main Authors: Rehor, A, Tirelli, N, Hubbell, J. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 05-11-2002
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Ring opening polymerization; Emulsion copolymerization; Ethylene sulfide copolymer; Living polymer; Experimental study; Emulsion polymerization; Preparation; Propylene sulfide polymer; Olefin sulfide copolymer; Anionic polymerization; Olefin sulfide polymer; Anionic copolymerization; Episulfide; Monomer; Chemical reactivity; Ring opening copolymerization; Propylene sulfide copolymer
• ISSN: 0024-9297; 1520-5835
• DOI: 10.1021/ma0211378

The anionic ring-opening polymerization of episulfides has been successfully applied in emulsion. The polymerization proceeded with a living mechanism but was characterized by a limiting conversion, presumably arising from the increase in viscosity in the polymer. To the knowledge of the authors, only two other cases of living anionic polymerization in emulsion are known (silicones and cyanoacrylates); the additional novelty presented by episulifdes is the ease of end-functionalization. Furthermore, the emulsion polymerization allowed the preparation of highly stable particles, which, due to their PEGylated surface and their appropriate diameter, can be applied in the biomedical field as nanocarriers.