Synthesis of Polystyrene with Terminal Functional Groups via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization using an Immobilized Catalytic System

Abstract

A new cross-linked solid catalyst with azo-crown ether functional side chains (PSt-1,10-dicarbonyl-3,6,9-trizaocylcodecane) was prepared under microwave irradiation and its structure was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis and solid-state 13 C NMR. The immobilized catalyst system, composed of functionalized lightly cross-linked polystyrene (crosslink degree, 3.5%), CuBr and ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB), was used to perform the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. The polymer obtained had functional end groups that can coordinate with rare earth ions such as La(III). Thus the polymer was reacted with La(NO3 )3 and the resulting polystyrene-La complex was characterized by FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The polystyrene-La complex exhibited an increase in third-order nonlinear optical properties as determined by the degenerated four wave mixing technique.