Abstract
Cellulose-based macroinitiators with predetermined number of initiation sites were synthesized by acylation of microcrystalline cellulose AVICEL PH-101 with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide under homogeneous reaction conditions in the DMAc/LiCl solvent system. The influence of different methods of cellulose activation on the acylation efficiency and reproducibility was investigated.
A new activation protocol, based on solvent exchange to 1,4-dioxane, was introduced. Prepared macroinitiators were used for grafting with styrene and MMA using optimized ATRP reaction conditions to achieve well-controlled polymerizations with high initiation efficiency.
In addition, SET LRP technique employing Cu(0) as the catalyst was used for the first time to prepare cellulose-graft-polystyrene and cellulose-graft-poly(MMA) copolymers in a homogeneous phase. Moreover, some of the prepared copolymers were characterized by static and dynamic light scattering, and microscopic techniques.