Towards controlled graft polymerization of poly [styrene-co-(maleic anhydride)] on functionalized silica mediated by oxoaminium bromide salt.: Facile synthetic pathway using nitroxide chemistry

A TEMPO bromide salt is used to functionalize a silica surface with nitroxyl moieties. The functionalization reaction takes place in 48 h under mild conditions. In a second step, grafts of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer are grown from the functionalized silica surface by heating it in the presence of the monomers. FT-IR and TGA analysis show that the silica was first functionalized with nitroxide moieties, and then that grafts of styrene-maleic anhydride grew from the functionalized silica surface. A reaction mechanism is proposed in order to explain the findings. The results suggest that the oxoaminium salts are good candidates for the functionalization and grafting of surfaces that contain hydroxy groups and for the generation of hybrid materials with improved properties.