Kinetic comparison of isomeric oligo(ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylates: Aqueous polymerization of oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate and methyl 2-(oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether)acrylate macromonomers

The photoinduced energy/electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerizations of oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate (OEOMA, also known as poly[ethylene glycol] methyl ether methacrylate, PEGMA) and isomeric methyl 2-(oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether)acrylate (2OEOAM) macromonomers with OEO average degree of polymerization of 22 or 45 were conducted in aqueous media to provide insight into the effect of monomer structure on grafting-through RAFT of 1,1-disubstituted acrylic macromonomers. The polymerizations of all four monomers reached nearly quantitative conversion. The longer macromonomers polymerized faster than the shorter ones within the same monomer class. The OEO side chain at the alpha (i.e., 2-) position of isomeric acrylates significantly slowed RAFT polymerization in comparison with OEO ester side chain of methacrylates.

Automated summary

The effect of monomer structure on polymerization reactions was studied in aqueous media. It was found that longer macromonomers polymerized faster, while the OEO side chain at the alpha position of isomeric acrylates significantly slowed down the reaction.