| Dimethacrylate monomers containing two cleavable tert-butyl ester groups were synthesized and utilized in the synthesis of star-shaped polymers. Star polymer coupling was achieved by reacting the living poly(alkyl methacrylate) using 2,5-dimethyl-2,5 hexanediol dimethacrylate (DHDMA) or dicumyl dimethacrylate (DCDMA). These star-shaped polymers were cleaved under hydrolytic conditions, leading to significant reductions in molecular weights. The cleavable star-shaped polymers also underwent uncatalyzed degradation at elevated temperatures. Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) copolymers based on 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) were synthesized containing cleavable branching comprised of either DHDMA or DCDMA. Extremely high molecular weight branched polymers were obtained, and these branched adhesives exhibited 180° peel strengths that displayed a strong dependence on the weight-average molecular weights. The PSA branching sites were cleaved via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, drastically lowering the 180° peel strengths of the cleaved linear polymers between 75 and 95 percent.;Branched poly (EHA) PSAs containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), as well as poly(EHA-co -HEMA), were synthesized and modified with photoactive functional groups. Cinnamate functionalized PSAs underwent photocrosslinking under UV light, leading to significant losses in 180° peel strengths. The acrylate functionalized PSAs were mixed with a photoinitiator, and following crosslinking under visible light, these PSAs exhibited excellent deactivation characteristics.;Poly(methyl methacrylate) containing aliphatic diols were synthesized via anionic polymerization utilizing the novel protected functional co-initiator 1,1-bis-4,4'-(2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethoxy)phenylethylene (BTOPE). Following the coupling of BTOPE with sec-butyl lithium, methyl methacrylate was polymerized in living fashion at -78°C in THF. A broad molecular weight range of BTOPE-initiated PMMA samples were synthesized, and molecular weight distributions were as low as 1.03 were observed. Hydrolytic deprotection of the protecting groups resulted in alpha,alpha-dihydroxy PMMA.;The graft macromonomers poly(tert-butyl styrene- block-styrene) methacrylate and poly(styrene-block-tert-butyl styrene) methacrylate were synthesized from the corresponding diblock copolymer alcohols utilizing acid chloride chemistry. Excellent molecular weight control, narrow molecular weight distributions, and perfect crossover were observed in both types of diblock polymers. The macromonomers were copolymerized with methyl methacrylate via solution free-radical copolymerization. The styrene blocks in the purified graft copolymers were selectively sulfonated using acetyl sulfate.;Results of the research efforts presented herein are written as individual research reports with contributing authors and pertinent literature reviews presented at the beginning of each chapter. |
