Micrcowave-assisted controlled ring-closing cyclopolymerization of diallyldimethylammonium chloride via the RAFT process

The present studies provide the first example of controlled free radical polymerization of a cyclopolymerizing monomer, i.e. diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) chemistry in the presence of trithiocarbonate agent in aqueous solution at 60 degrees C under microwave irradiation. The polymers [poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDADMAC] were soluble in water characterization of the polymers was achieved via NMR spectroscopy. The cyclization reactions during DADMAC polymerization under microwave! irradiation attained higher conversions at each time interval as compared to thermal heating. The rate enhancements till around 520% were seen for some reactions. High molecular weight PDADMAC with narrow poly-dispersities (approaching PDI approximate to 1.05) could be made using microwave irradiation.