Intellectual Property Office
Non-Confidential Disclosures
“Living Free Radical Initiators Based on Alkylperoxydiarylborane”
PSU Invention Disclosure No. 2364
Key Words:
Vinyl copolymers; living free radical initiators
Links:
US Patent 6,420,502
US Patent 6,515,088
http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/chung.htm
http://www.ipo.psu.edu
Inventors:
T.C. (Mike) Chung, G. Xu
Background:
The control of polymer structure has been an important facet in polymer synthesis, both for academic interests and industrial applications. A living polymerization mechanism provides an optimal means for preparing polymers having well-defined molecular structures, i.e. molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, polymer chain end, as well as for preparing block and star polymers. In the past, the most viable techniques in living polymerization reactions were mediated by anionic, cationic, and more recently metathesis initiators. However, these polymerization processes are very limited to a narrow range of monomers, due to the sensitivity of active sites to functional (polar) groups.
In many respects, free radical polymerization is the opposite of living ionic and metathesis polymerizations since it is compatible with a wide range of functional groups, but offers little or no control over polymer structure. Despite this drawback, free radical polymerization is the preferred industrial choice in the commercial production of vinyl polymers, especially those containing functional groups. Various living free radical polymerization processes have been created to try to obtain the benefit of both types of systems. However, all of these methods have disadvantages and there continues to be a need for improved living free radical systems.
Invention description:
The invention relates to a new class of living free radical initiators that are based on alkylperoxydiarylborane derivatives (Fig. 1) wherein X is absent or is selected from a direct chemical bond, --O--, --N(R)--, --Si(R2)--, and --(CH2)m --, with R being a C1 - C2 alkyl group and m being 1, 2 or 3. The initiators exhibit living polymerization at ambient temperature to produce white solid vinyl polymers with pre-determined molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. By sequential monomer addition, the initiators also produce block copolymers with controlled copolymer composition and narrow molecular weight distribution.
Advantages:
- Produce white solid vinyl polymers with predetermined narrow molecular weight distribution
- Can initiate living polymerization at ambient temperatures
- Useful for preparing vinyl homopolymers and copolymers including block & star-shaped
Contact:
Bradley A. Swope
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
The Pennsylvania State University
113 Technology Center
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 863-5987
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: bradswope@psu.edu |
