One-Pot synthesis of functional poly(methacrylate) by ATRP and 1,8-Diazacyclo-[5,4,0]undec-7-ene catalyzed transesterification

A facile one-pot 1,8-diazacyclo-[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU) catalyzed transesterification/atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) strategy has been successfully developed through the combination of copper/DBU-catalyzed ATRP and DBU-catalyzed transesterification reactions. Well-defined poly(methacrylate)s with various side ester groups have been synthesized by ATRP and transesterification of acyl donor 2,2,2-trifluoethyl methacrylate with various alcohols, such as benzyl alcohol, n -butanol, iso -propyl alcohol, methanol, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propargyl alcohol, and 6-azido-1-hexanol by the one-pot process. Kinetic studies indicate that the ATRP process proceeded in a controllable manner without the interference of the transesterification reactions. Expansion of the binary system to a higher level ternary system has been successfully achieved by the combination of copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition, transesterification, and ATRP reactions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52 , 2998–3003