Date of Award

1-1-2011

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Sub-Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

John J Lavigne

Abstract

Well-defined homopolymers with boronic acid-functional end groups were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. By employing a boronic acid-terminated RAFT chain transfer agent, end-functional polymers including end-functionalized polystyrene [PS-B(OH)2] and end-functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA-B(OH)2] were prepared without recourse to post-polymerization functionalization. Quantitative retention of the boronic acid chain termini during polymerization was spectroscopically demonstrated. In addition, alkene end-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (e-PEG) and 1,2-diol terminated poly(ethylene glycol) were also prepared by using thio-ene photo click reactions. In order to prepare for nanoporous surfaces, a cleavable block copolymer linked with a boronate ester bond (PS-BOO-PEG) which can be hydrolyzed in the presence of water was synthesized. And the subsequent formation of porosity was observed and investigated as well. The formation of macropores suggested the potential application to separation membranes, catalysis and chemical sensing.

Rights

© 2011, Hao Jing

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