A highly alternating polymer sequence of methacrylate and acrylate has been made via living radical polymerization by researchers from Kyoto University.
“Template monomers” – consisting of two polymerisable alkene functions, e.g. methacylate and acrylate, placed side-by-side at the 1 and 8 positions of a rigid naphthalene scaffold – were used to create highly alternating polymers. Metal catalysed living radical polymerisation of these “templates” gave linear, controlled polymers with no cross-linking.
Interested to know more? Why not read the full article for free: Yusuke Hibi, Shinsuke Tokuoka, Takaya Terashima, Makoto Ouchi and Mitsuo Sawamoto, Polym. Chem., 2011, 2, 341–347
This paper is part of an Emerging Investigators themed issue of Polymer Chemistry. Please click here to read the full listing of papers.
