Synthesis of homo- and copolymer containing sulfonic acid via atom transfer radical polymerization.

Well-defined functional poly(-phenyl styrenesulfonate) and poly(-phenyl styrene-sulfonate--styrene) were successfully synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using CuBr/bpy(PMDETA) catalyst and 1-phenylethyl bromide (1-PEBr) as an ATRP initiator in diphenyl ether (DPE) or dimethyl formamide (DMF). In both homo- and copolymers, the CuBr/PMDETA catalytic system in DPE or DME showed higher yield than CuBr/bpy and the polydispersity index (PDI) of polymer was low. Using PMDETA or bpy as a ligand in DMF, the high yield with high PDI was obtained than in DPE.

Copolymerization of Norbornene and Styrene with Anilinonaphthoquinone-Ligated Nickel Complexes.

Poly(norbornene--styrene)s were synthesized by the use of anilinonaphthoquinone-ligated nickel complexes [Ni(CHONAr)(Ph)(PPh): , Ar = CH-2,6-Pr; , Ar = CH-2,4,6-Me; , Ar = CH] activated with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) or B(CF) in toluene. The effects of the cocatalysts were more significant than those of the nickel complexes, and MMAO gave higher activity than B(CF). The structural characterizations of the products indicated the formation of statistical norbornene copolymers.