Polymers with a single central point of carboxylic acid functionality were prepared by living radical polymerization methods, RAFT and ATRP. A convenient water-based synthesis of a Y-branched ATRP initiator from 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 2-bromopropionyl bromide, from which the Y-branched RAFT agent is then subsequently derived, is described. Polymerization occurred uniformly from both of the RAFT groups to give chains of equal length as shown by hydrolysis. ATRP polymerization based on an ester derivative of 3,5-bis(2-bromopropionyloxy)benzoic acid as initiator was well controlled, whereas the free carboxylic acid gave inconsistent performance. The ability to couple functional molecules to the middle of polymers would provide better protection or interaction of the functional molecule with the polymer than conventional end attachment. This would find applications such as in drug delivery where more efficient protection would allow the use of lower molecular weight polymers.
通过活自由基聚合方法、RAFT 和 ATRP 制备了具有单中心点羧酸官能团的聚合物。本文介绍了一种方便的水基合成方法,即从 3,5-二羟基苯甲酸和 2-溴丙酰溴合成 Y-支链 ATRP 起始剂,然后再从该 起始剂衍生出 Y-支链 RAFT 剂。正如水解作用所显示的那样,聚合作用从两个 RAFT 基团均匀地发生,从而得到等长的链。以 3,5-双(2-溴丙酰氧基)苯甲酸的酯类衍生物为引发剂的 ATRP 聚合反应得到了很好的控制,而游离羧酸的聚合反应则表现不稳定。与传统的末端连接相比,将功能分子连接到聚合物中间的能力可以更好地保护功能分子或使其与聚合物相互作用。这将应用于药物输送等领域,在这些领域中,更有效的保护将允许使用分子量较低的聚合物。