Controlled Free Radical Polymerization of Styrene Initiated from Alkoxyamine Attached to Polyacrylate Chemisorbed onto Conducting Surfaces

Abstract

A new inimer that associates an alkoxyamine, which is an initiator/mediator in nitroxide mediated radical polymerization (NMP), and a polymerizable acrylate has been synthesized and used in a two-step “grafting-from” method. The acrylate has been first electropolymerized under a cathodic potential, such that the polymer is chemisorbed on the cathode. NMP of styrene has then been initiated from the electrografted polyacrylate chains with formation of polystyrene with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity.