End group transformation of polymers prepared by ATRP, substitution to azides

Polystyrenes, polyacrylates and poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) have predictable molecular weights, low polydispersities and well-defined halogen end groups. The halogen end groups have been substituted by other functionalities such as azides and amines. In order to predict the feasibility and selectivity of nucleophilic substitution reactions, the reactivities of the end groups of the different polymers were studied. First, model studies with benzyl halide (BzX), 1-phenylethyl halide (1-PEX), methyl 2-halopropionate (MXP), ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) and 2-halopropionitrile (2-XPN) were performed. The models compounds were dissolved in DMF and after adding sodium azide (1.1 eq.), the reaction mixtures were stirred at 25 degrees C. The relative magnitude of the rate constants for the reactions with the chlorinated substrates were found to be BzCl > MClP > 1-PECl approximate to 2-ClPN:22 > 6 > 1. Increased substitution at the carbon center decreased the rate of reaction, benzyl chloride reacted 22 times faster than 1-phenylethyl chloride. The brominated substrates reacted very fast. The rate constant of 1-PEBr, determined by competition experiments, was 4.5 times higher than the rate constant of benzyl chloride. Based on these results, the bromine end groups of different polymers were substituted under reaction conditions simular to those used for the model reactions. The end-functionalized polymers were characterized by H-1-NMR, IR and MALDI-TOFMS.