How we can improve ARGET ATRP in an aqueous system: Honey as an unusual solution for polymerization of (meth)acrylates

Abstract

Aqueous solutions of various types of honey as a source of reducing sugars – glucose and fructose, were used to accelerate or control activators regeneration by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) in a homogeneous or heterogeneous environment. The aqueous or alcoholic-aqueous solution was applied for the polymerization of hydrophilic methacrylates i.e. 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), while the polymerization of a hydrophobic monomer – n-butyl acrylate (nBA) was conducted in miniemulsion under ion-pair and interfacial catalysis. The polymerization of DMAEMA in a honey solution accelerated the polymerization rate up to 30-fold with a significant improvement in the control over the structure of the product, namely, the polymers were characterized by narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.33), and initiation efficiency up to 98 %. Controlled polymerization of nBA was conducted in a honey-contained miniemulsion. Honey-based miniemulsion was successfully checked for the synthesis of both linear and branched polymers. The use of chemical reducing agents found in commercially available food products for polymerization is an economic concept that eliminates the need for high purity laboratory reagents, moreover, food products are widely available and therefore much cheaper. The proposed concept has great potential for industrial applications.