Atom transfer radical polymerization as a powerful tool in the synthesis of molecular brushes

Abstract

Various strategies for the synthesis of molecular brushes are reviewed. Molecular brushes are classified as a special class of densely grafted polymers. Their syntheses via 'grafting from', 'grafting through' and 'grafting onto' techniques are exemplified and advantages and disadvantages of the techniques are discussed. Macromolecules with complex architectures such as molecular brushes (MBs) have received much attention over the last two decades. This interest is largely due to their potential applications in many fields, such as drug delivery and electronics, among others. The synthesis of such complex macromolecules can only be achieved via the use of controlled polymerization techniques such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.