Atom transfer radical polymerization of methylmethacrylate and styrene initiated by 3,5-bis(perfluorobenzyloxy)benzyl 2-bromopropanoate

The synthesis of polymethylmethacrylate (pMMA) and polystyrene (pSt) were realized with newly synthesized initiator, 3,5-bis(perfluorobenzyloxy)benzyl 2-bromopropanoate (FBr) in the presence of copper bromide (CuBr) and N,N,N',N'', N''-pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine (PMDETA) by using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The perfluorinated aromatic group containing initiator was prepared by esterification of the (3,5-bis[(perfluorobenzyl)oxy]-phenyl alcohol. Both initiator and polymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ATRP was supported by an increase in the molecular weight of the forming polymers and also by their monomodal molecular weight distribution. Contact angle measurements of water and ethylene glycol on films of synthesized polymers indicated higher degree of hydrophobicity than that of pure pMMA and pure pSt.