Dear researcher
I am trying to synthesis acrylate and methacrylate based co-polymers. I will use controlled radical polymerization for this. But I am confused about the selection of ATRP or RAFT technique? Question arising Like why RAFT ? Why ATRP? what are the border lines for the selection of these polymerization techniques?
Article/review/book or any suggestion will be helpful for me..
I disagree with the above comment that ATRP is more straightforward. ATRP is a right pain in the ass. It is compatible with a narrower range of monomers than RAFT, it is more sensitive to oxygen than RAFT, and you often need to optimise the ligand, solvent and initiator depending on what you are polymerising. RAFT is straightforward, but of course it has its issues: the CTA can decompose (hydrolysis, aminolysis, acidolysis) to release low MW thiols, the mechanism of RAFT leads to "dead" chains that do not carry a living functionality and, as mentioned above, RAFT agents aren't cheap. But they're not exactly hard to synthesise either.
ATRP, has high tolerance of growing species to acid and hydroxy groups. Usually is employed to the synthesis of acrylate and methacrylate. RAFT agents are expensive.
Generally speaking, ATRP is more straight forward. RAFT agents can also color the final polymer, and can produce foul odors as they decompose.
Thank you @Prof Edwin and Dr.Douglas for these informations.. What I understand that ATRP is better choice.. One thing more, Even though RAFT agents are expensive, But If we synthesize Block copolymers by RAFT. What particular goals can we achieve from block copolymer?
In my opinion, RAFT is the best for synthesized block co polymer because it can good control molecular weight and PDI=1 with mind condition. Some RAFT agents, such as 3-benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsufanyl propionic acid, were easily synthesize . The color of the final polymer can easy removed by using amine compound.
I disagree with the above comment that ATRP is more straightforward. ATRP is a right pain in the ass. It is compatible with a narrower range of monomers than RAFT, it is more sensitive to oxygen than RAFT, and you often need to optimise the ligand, solvent and initiator depending on what you are polymerising. RAFT is straightforward, but of course it has its issues: the CTA can decompose (hydrolysis, aminolysis, acidolysis) to release low MW thiols, the mechanism of RAFT leads to "dead" chains that do not carry a living functionality and, as mentioned above, RAFT agents aren't cheap. But they're not exactly hard to synthesise either.
RAFT is straight forward, more compatible with a wider range of monomers, and the method of choice for block copolymers. In the past RAFT agents were expensive and there were many to choose from which made the landscape a bit confusing. This is now not the case. The "common" complaints about RAFT generally revolved around cost, the stability of the RAFT agent and release of thiols from trithiocarbonate-based agents. The new generation pyrazole-based dithiocarbamate RAFT agents do not have this issue and not only have excellent activity but are low cost, low MW, and have broad applicability to a wide range of MAMs and LAMs.
Look at the Boron Molecular website for these core set of RAFT agents available in kg to tonne quantities (and associated references).
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