I am working with 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TPM). It's hydrolysis and condensation results in the formation of microspheres. Their polymerization by using AIBN at 80 deg. C yeilds hard microspheres. These microspheres are insoluble in the commonly used organic solvents e.g. DMF, DCM, Chloroform, etc. The insolubility may be due to the cross linking during the polymerization as suggested in few articles. How can I fix this problem?
Zameer, In case you are still interested in this issue, you might try the radical polymerization in methanol. Methanol should provide some inhibition of condensation among methoxy silyl groups. John
Hello. I think you have two types of polymerization. Condensation of silanol groups and free double bond radicals. So I think you should prevent hydrolysis of the silanoate groups. Solvent which is immiscible with water and non-acidic and avoid the glass flask. I think that the silanol groups in the glass flask may be initiating the hydrolysis of your monomer. And try to polymerize at cold temperatures by changing the AIBN initiator and replace it with another or use UV
Thanks John and Muhamed! Actually unpolymerized TPM is soluble in alcohols, so I may not get any product after the polymerization. Changing the initiator may help, as suggested by Muhamed.
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