Controlled polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide with an activated methacrylic ester

A copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of methacrylic acid has found use in a variety of applications. Here we report our efforts to gain control over the molecular weight distribution of this copolymer with controlled radical polymerization methods, such as atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT), and nitroxide-mediated polymerization. We have found that RAFT is capable of affording these copolymers with a polydispersity index of 1.1-1.2. Our results for all three polymerizations are reported. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.