FIGURE 1.

Polymerization driven by pH oscillatory chemistry (A) The pH oscillation curve in a semibatch BrO₃ ⁻ − SO₃ ^2– pH oscillator initiated system and (B) the corresponding monomer conversions (%) of PEG-b-PHPMA calculated by the increase in the area of polymer peak (-CH₂-C(COOR)-CH₃, 0.8–1.0 ppm, black line) or the decrease in the area of monomer peak (CH₂ = , used the one at 6.1–6.2 ppm, blue line); the monomer conversions were determined by ¹H-NMR spectra of the reaction mixtures sampled out at different times. The solution of sodium sulfite and sulfuric acid (c(Na₂SO₃) = 2.0 M and c(H⁺) = 0.31 M) was inflowed at a rate of 0.30 ml/h to the 20.0 ml solution of [NaBrO₃]₀ = 0.10 M, PEG-CTA (17.3 mg, 8 μmol) and HPMA (112.2 μl, 800 μmol, DP_target = 100), T = 40°C.