Synthesis of Graft Copolymers by Nitroxide Mediated Radical Polymerization of Styrene and n-Butylacrylate Using Alkoxyamine-Functionalized Copolymers as Macroinitiators

A simple two step method for the preparation of graft copolymers is described in this paper. For the synthesis of the prepolymers the alkoxyaminemonomers 2-methyl-acryli-acid-4-[1-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-yloxy)ethyl]-benzylester(Mas-BzEt-TEMPO) and 2-methyl-acrylic-acid-4-{1-[N-tert-butyl-N-(1-isopropyl-2-methyl-propyl)-amino-oxylethyl}-benzyl ester (Mas-BzEt-BIPNO) were utilized in radical copolymerizations with styrene, methylmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate and n-butylacrylate. These copolymers were then used as multifunctional macroinitiators for nitroxide mediated graft polymerization of styrene and n-butylacrylate. The polymerizations were carried out in bulk at 125 degrees C.