Synthesis of well-defined glycoconjugate polyacrylamides via preactivated polymers prepared by ATRP

Poly(N-acryloxysuccinimide) (polyNAS) with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD) applicable for the preparation of well-defined glycoconjugate polyacrylamides were successfully prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The structures of polyNAS were characterized by H-1-NMR and GPC. GPC results showed that the molecular weight polydispersity indices (PDI) range from 1.17 to 1.29. The molecular weights could be calculated based on H-1-NMR results but GPC results of polyNAS by using 0.01M LiBr/DMF did not give accurate molecular weights, probably because of the complex interaction in the system. The effects of free N-hydroxysuccimide produced in the polymerization processes on the free-radical concentrations and apparent initiation efficiencies of ATRP were discussed. Well-defined glycoconjugate polyacrylamides (i.e., with narrow molecular weight distributions and designed glycoconjugate degrees) were prepared by substituting N-oxysuccimide units with galactosamine followed by reaction of ethanolamine. The galactose conjugate degrees were determined by H-1-NMR and the total substitutions of N-oxysuccimides were verified by H-1-NMR and FTIR. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.