Facile one-pot/one-step technique for preparation of side-chain functionalized polymers: Combination of SET-RAFT polymerization of azide vinyl monomer and click chemistry

An azido-containing functional monomer, 11-azido-undecanoyl methacrylate, was successfully polymerized via ambient temperature single electron transfer initiation and propagation through the reversible additionfragmentation chain transfer (SET-RAFT) method. The polymerization behavior possessed the characteristics of living/controlled radical polymerization. The kinetic plot was first order, and the molecular weight of the polymer increased linearly with the monomer conversion while keeping the relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.22). The complete retention of azido group of the resulting polymer was confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR analysis. Retention of chain functionality was confirmed by chain extension with methyl methacrylate to yield a diblock copolymer. Furthermore, the side-chain functionalized polymer could be prepared by one-pot/one-step technique, which is combination of SET-RAFT and click chemistry methods. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012