Preparation and Characterization of Strongly Sulfonated Acid Block and Random Copolymer Membranes for Acetic Acid Esterification with 2-Propanol.

In this paper, we report the synthesis of block and random copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and methyl methacrylate (MMA), with different AMPS feed ratios. These solution-processable copolymers with strongly sulfonated acid groups resulted in membranes with tunable ion exchange (IEC) and water absorption capacities. AFM images confirmed the microphase separation of block copolymer membrane, annealed under the appropriate conditions.

Synthesis of Poly(2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) and its Block Copolymers with Methyl Methacrylate and 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate by Quasiliving Radical Polymerization Catalyzed by a Cyclometalated Ruthenium(II) Complex.

The first example of quasiliving radical polymerization and copolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) without previous protection of its strong acid groups catalyzed by [Ru(-CH-2-py)(phen)(MeCN)]PF complex is reported. Nuclear magnetic resonance (RMN) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed the diblock structure of the sulfonated copolymers. The poly(2-acryloamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid)--poly(methyl methacrylate) (PAMPS--PMMA) and poly(2-acryloamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid)--poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PAMPS--PHEMA) copolymers obtained are highly soluble in organic solvents and present good film-forming ability.