Ab initio emulsion polymerization by RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) through the addition of cyclodextrins

A novel process to produce homo- and copolymers by RAFT polymerization in emulsion is presented. It is known that RAFT-controlled radical polymerization can be conducted in emulsion polymerization without disturbing the radical segregation characteristic of this process, thus leading to polymerization rates identical to those encountered in the corresponding nonliving systems. However, RAFT agents are often characterized by very low water solubility and, therefore, they diffuse very slowly from the monomer droplets, where they are initially solubilized, to the reaction loci, i.e., the polymer particles. Accordingly, when used in emulsion polymerization, they are practically excluded from the reaction. In this work, we show that cyclodextrins, well-known for their ability to form water-soluble complexes with hydrophobic molecules, facilitate the transport across the H2O phase of the RAFT agent to the polymer particles. Accordingly, chains grow through the entire process in a controlled way. This leads to the production of low-polydispersity polymers with well-defined structure and end functionalities as well as to the possibility of synthesizing block copolymers by a radical mechanism.