Hydrobromination of residual vinyl groups on divinylbenzene polymer particles followed by atom transfer radical surface graft polymerization

Abstract

Rigid and monodisperse spherical polymer particles with 2.36 ± 0.18 μ diameter containing residual surface vinyl groups were prepared by photoinitiated precipitation polymerization of divinylbenzene. Anti-Markovnikov addition of HBr to the surface vinyl groups yielded a 2-bromoethyl functionality that was used as macroinitiator for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), providing the possibility for further functionalization by controlled "grafting from" processes. This was demonstrated by grafting of glycidyl methacrylate brushes from the particle surface, using an ATRP system based on CuBr and pentamethyl diethylenetriamine. Existence of a methacrylic overlayer was verified by FTIR and XPS measurements, and the grafted particles were easily dispersed in water, confirming conversion of the particle surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Hydrobromination of residual vinyl groups yields a macroinitiator that can be used for grafting of glycidyl methacrylate by ATRP. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.