Synthesis and characterization of fluorine‐containing PAA‐<i>b</i>‐PTPFCBPMA amphiphilic block copolymer

Abstract

Abstract A series of perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether‐based amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and fluorophilic poly( p ‐(2‐( p ‐tolyloxy)perfluorocyclobutoxy)phenyl methacrylate) segments were synthesized via successive atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). 2‐MBP‐initiated and CuBr/ N,N,N ′ ,N ′ ,N ″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine‐catalyzed ATRP homopolymerization of the PFCB‐containing methacrylate monomer, p ‐(2‐( p ‐tolyloxy)perfluorocyclobutoxy)phenyl methacrylate, can be performed in a controlled mode as confirmed by the fact that the number‐average molecular weights ( M n ) increased linearly with the conversions of the monomer while the polydispersity indices kept below 1.38. The block copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions ( M w / M n ≤ 1.36) were synthesized by ATRP using Br‐end‐functionalized poly( tert ‐butyl acrylate) (P t BA) as macroinitiator followed by the acidolysis of hydrophobic P t BA block into hydrophilic PAA segment. The critical micelle concentrations of the amphiphilic diblock copolymers in different surroundings were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using N ‐phenyl‐1‐naphthylamine as probe. The morphology and size of the micelles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic laser light scattering, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010