Synthesis of homo- and copolymer containing sulfonic acid via atom transfer radical polymerization

ABSTRACT

Well-defined functional poly(p-phenyl styrenesulfonate) and poly(p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate-co-styrene) were successfully synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using CuBr/bpy(PMDETA) catalyst and 1-phenylethyl bromide (1-PEBr) as an ATRP initiator in diphenyl ether (DPE) or dimethyl formamide (DMF). In both homo- and copolymers, the CuBr/PMDETA catalytic system in DPE or DME showed higher yield than CuBr/bpy and the polydispersity index (PDI) of polymer was low. Using PMDETA or bpy as a ligand in DMF, the high yield with high PDI was obtained than in DPE. We found that the CuBr/PMDETA catalyzed ATRP of p-phenyl styrenesulfonate and copolymerization with styrene comonomer in DPE proceeded in a controlled manner. The polymers containing sulfonic acid were obtained by the chemical deprotection of protecting group, followed by acidification. The molecular structure, molecular weights and thermal properties of the copolymers were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively.

1. Introduction

The controlled radical polymerizations (CRPs) such as nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP) [1,2], atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) [3–8], reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization [9–11], etc. have been used as synthetic tools to prepare well-defined polymers or copolymers with predetermined molecular weights, precise chain-end functionalities, and controlled topologies. ATRP has become a promising one of the different CRPs due to its mild reaction conditions, broad applicability to a variety of monomers, and good control over the polymer chain length and chain-end functionalities [3,4,12–36]. In ATRP, the molecular weights of the resultant polymer can be calculated using the ratio of monomer to the initiator in the polymer chain. The different tailor-made polymers with complex architectures like block copolymers, star polymers, dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers can be synthesized by varying the composition and topology of the polymer chains [37–42].

Homo- and copolymers of styrene sulfonate [43] have much interest in the field of renewable energy. The sulfonated polymers were widely used as hole transporters in organic solar cells [44,45], ionic exchangers in polymer-lithium batteries [46,47], proton conductors in fuel cells [48,49], and as heterogenous acid catalysts in the organic reactions such as esterification, olefin hydration, etherification and alkylation of phenols [50–54].

Coughlin and coworkers have reported the sulfonation of polystyrene (PS) and the emulsion polymerization of styrene sulfonate (SS) monomer [55]. They found that small shoulders appeared in the ¹H NMR spectrum of poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) obtained through sulfonation. The shoulders were not observed in PSS synthesized by polymerizing of styrene sulfonate (SS) monomer. This result indicated that the side reactions such as incomplete sulfonation, sulfonation in different positions, or other side products during sulfonation of PS were occurred.

The ATRP of monomers with sulfonic acids are difficult because of their strong reacting with either the ATRP catalyst, alkyl halide‑type initiator or the polymeric dormant species [56]. In these cases, the sulfonic acid group in a monomer can be protected as an alkyl ester, salts formed at high pH or by neutralization with alkyl amines before the polymerization. Examples of protective groups include t‑butyl, benzyl, tetrahydropyrannyl, 4‑nitro-phenyl, and 1‑ethoxyethyl [25,57]. The protecting groups can control the polymer properties [58] and the obtained polymers can be more functionalized by transformation reaction of these groups.

There have been few reports on the synthesis of PSS and copolymerization of SS with a comonomer by the controlled radical polymerizations. Mitsukami et al. have prepared homopolymer PSS and block copolymer with sodium 4-vinylbenzoate in aqueous media by RAFT [43]. They observed that block copolymer was pH responsive.

To find out a suitable ATRP condition is very important for the polymerization of a monomer especially with a polar functional group. In our previous work, we reported the ATRP conditions for the homoplymerization of styrene and acrylates [59].

In the present work, we have successfully synthesized well-defined sulfonated homopolymers (PSS) and copolymers (CP-SS) with chain-end functionalities by the ATRP of p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate (SS) and copolymerization with styrene (S) comonomer, respectively. The effects of ATRP ligand and solvent on the polymer yields, molecular weights (M_n), and polydispersity index (PDI) were investigated in detail. These polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (¹H NMR) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Thermal properties of the copolymers were investigated by the thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

2. Experimental

2.1. Materials and instrumentation

In this study, styrene monomer (S), copper bromide (CuBr) and solvents [diphenyl ether (DPE) and dimethyl formamide (DMF)] used were purified according to a standard procedure. The ATRP ligands (2,2’-bipyridine (bpy), and N,N,N’,N”,N”-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA)) and 1-phenylethyl bromide (1-PEBr) as an initiator were used as received without further purification. The ¹H NMR of polymers were measured in CDCl₃ at 25 °C operating at 400 MHz using the JEOL JNM-ECS 400SS spectrometer and the chemical shits were expressed in δ ppm. FT-IR spectra were recorded with a JEOL JIR-7000 FT-IR spectrometer and reported in reciprocal centimeter (cm⁻¹). The molecular weights and polydispersity index (PDI) of polymers were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with Tosoh instrument with HLC 8020 UV (254 nm) detection. DMF was used as a carrier solvent at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min⁻¹ at 40 °C. Two polystyrene gel columns of bead size 10 μm (Shodex KF-806 L, Showa Denko K. K.) were used. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was performed on an SII EXSTER 600 (Seiko Instruments Inc., Japan) system under a nitrogen atmosphere. Differences in the thermal history of the polymers were eliminated by first heating the specimen to 200 °C, cooling it to 20 °C, and then recording the second DSC scan (all heating rates: 10 °C/min). Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out using a TG/DTA 6000 analyzer (Seiko Instruments Inc., Japan) under a flow of nitrogen (constant heating rate: 10 °C/min; 25–550 °C).

2.2. Synthesis of p-phenyl styrenesulfonate (SS) monomer

p-Phenyl styrenesulfonate (SS) was synthesized according to the previously reported procedure [60,61]. Yield: 3.082 g, 65%, R_f = 0.54. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃, δ = 7.27 (CDCl₃), TMS): δ = 5.48 (d, J = 10.7 Hz, 1H), 5.91 (d, J = 17.7 Hz, 1H), 6.76 (dd, J = 11.0 and J = 17.7 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 2 H; Ar-H), 7.24–7.31 (m, 3 H; Ar-H), 7.51 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H; Ar-H), 7.77 (d, J = 7.0, 2 H; Ar-H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃, δ = 77.1 (CDCl₃), TMS): δ = 118.35, 122.37, 126.67, 127.16, 128.85, 129.65, 129.88, 134.03, 135.10, 143.27, 149.59.

2.3. Synthesis of functional poly(p-phenyl styrenesulfonate) PSS by ATRP

CuBr (14 mg, 0.098 mmol), SS (1302 mg, 5.000 mmol), and 1.25 mL of DPE were added to a 6 mL vial successively. The reaction mixture was purged with argon for 5 min and then PMDETA (52 mg, 0.30 mmol) was added. After an additional 5 min of argon bubbling, 1-PEBr (19 mg, 0.10 mmol) as an ATRP initiator was added into the reaction mixture. The molar ratio of [SS]_o/[1-PEBr]_o/[CuBr]_o/[PMDETA]_o was set to 100/2/2/6. The polymerization was performed in an oil bath at 110 °C for 24 h with a stirring rate at 400 rpm. The polymers were precipitated by dropwise addition in 125 mL of methanol. The PSS was collected by filtration and then dried at 40 °C under vacuum oven. The molecular structure and M_n of PSS were determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and SEC, respectively. Yield: 67%; M_{n, th} = 8,910, M_{n, SEC} = 12,900, M_{n, NMR} = 8,780, M_w/M_n = 1.31; FT-IR (KBr): ν = 1374, 1181 (S = O stretching), 1600, 1489 and 1452 (C = C in aromatic ring), 3060, 3025 (C – H in aromatic ring), and 2925, 2850 (C – H in alkyl) cm⁻¹.

2.4. Synthesis of functional poly(p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate-co-styrene) CP-SS by ATRP

CuBr (15 mg, 0.10 mmol), 70 mol% of S (366 mg, 3.51 mmol), 30 mol% of SS (390 mg, 1.50 mmol), and 1.25 mL of DPE were added to a 6 mL vial successively. The reaction mixture was purged with argon for 5 min and then PMDETA (54 mg, 0.31 mmol) was added. 1-PEBr (20 mg, 0.11 mmol) as an initiator was added into the mixture after an additional 5 min of argon bubbling. The polymerization was carried out in an oil bath at 110 °C for 24 h with a stirring at 400 rpm. The resultant copolymers were precipitated by dropwise addition in 125 mL of methanol. The CP-SS was collected by filtration and then dried at 40 °C under vacuum oven to provide a white powder. Yield: 45%; M_{n, th} = 8,390, M_{n, SEC} = 15,600, M_{n, NMR} = 9,230, M_n/M_w = 1.53; FT-IR (KBr): ν = 1376, 1176 (S = O stretching), 1598, 1490 and 1453 (C = C in aromatic ring), 3059, 3024 (C – H in aromatic ring), and 2924, 2851 (C – H in alkyl) cm⁻¹.

2.5. Synthesis of PSSNa and CP-SSNa

General synthesis procedure: To a flask with a magnetic stir bar inside, three equivalents of NaOH to SS moiety in the polymer or copolymer was added in a mixed solvent (THF/MeOH/H₂O (50/10/1) = 16.8/3.36/0.336) was added. The reaction was conducted in an oil bath at 50 °C for 24 h.

PSSNa: After 24 h, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, and the insoluble fraction was collected by centrifugation and washed with THF, MeOH, and CH₃COCH₃. The solid product PSSNa was dried at 40 °C for 24 h under vacuum oven. Yield: 89%; SSNa content: 4.78 mmol g⁻¹; FT-IR (KBr): ν = 1189 (S = O stretching in SO₃Na), 1646, 1601 and 1450 (C = C in aromatic ring), 3060 (C – H in aromatic ring), 2924, 2848 (C – H in alkyl), 3465 cm⁻¹ (O – H).

CP-SSNa: The resultant polymers were precipitated by dropwise addition in ether (Et₂O). The insoluble fraction was collected by centrifugation and washed with a small amount of MeOH and CH₃COCH₃. The solid product CP-SSNa was dried at 40 °C for 24 h under vacuum oven. Yield: 90%; SSNa content: 2.18 mmol g⁻¹; FT-IR (KBr): ν = 1190 (S = O stretching in SO₃Na), 1602, 1490 and 1450 (C = C in aromatic ring), 3060, 3024 (C – H in aromatic ring), 2925, 2850 (C – H in alkyl), 3464 cm⁻¹ (O – H).

2.6. Synthesis of CP-SSH

To a flask with a magnetic stir bar, CP-SSNa (459 mg, 0.100 mmol of SSNa moiety) and 53 mL of THF were added. 1.10 mL (20 equivalents to SSNa moiety) of the diluted H₂SO₄ in THF was added slowly into the mixture. The reaction was performed at room temperature for 24 h. The polymers were precipitated by dropwise addition in Et₂O. The insoluble fraction was collected by centrifugation and washed with a small amount of MeOH and CH₃COCH₃. The solid product was dried at 40 °C for 24 h under vacuum oven. Yield: 96%; sulfonic acid (SSH) moiety content: 2.30 mmol g⁻¹; FT-IR (KBr): ν = 1218 (S = O stretching in SO₃H), 1602, 1490, 1450 (C = C in aromatic ring), 3060, 3024 (C – H in aromatic ring), and 2924, 2850 (C – H in alkyl).

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Synthesis of poly(p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate) PSS by ATRP

PSS was prepared by the ATRP of SS, as illustrated in Scheme 1. The effects of ligand and solvent on the polymer yield and the polydispersity were summarized in Table 1. The ATRP conditions for SS were set as same as S polymerization [59]. PSS was obtained in low yield than PS because of the bulky functional group (C₆H₅OO₂S –) present in the SS monomer (entry I vs. 1; entry II vs. 2). On the other hand, the M_n of PSS with high PDI compared to PS were higher than the calculated because of the chain termination at the early stage of polymerization. S polymerization showed high PDI values when PMDETA was used as an ATRP ligand instead of bpy, probably due to the more initiating species formed firstly (entry I vs. II), whereas SS polymerization exhibited low polydispersity (entry 1 vs. 2). DPE was changed to DMF for checking the solvent effect on the ATRP of SS. The yield of PSS was increased when DMF with bpy or PMDETA was used as a solvent in lieu of DPE and the PDI values were relatively high (entry 1 vs. 3; entry 2 vs. 4). A similar rate enhancement in polar media was observed from different studies [62]. A faster initiation might have occurred due to high solubility of catalyst and polar monomer in DMF. The ATRP of SS with PMDETA in DPE or DMF proceeded faster than bpy and the PDI values were also low (entry 1 vs. 2; entry 3 vs. 4).

Scheme 1.

Synthesis of PSS and CP-SS.

Table 1.

Characterization data for PSS and or CP-SS synthesized by ATRP.^a.

Entry	Polymer	Ligand	Solvent	Yield (%)	Mn,th	Mn,SECb	Mn,NMRc	Mw/Mnb	Molar ratio (S:SS)c
I*	PS	PMDETA	DPE	81	4,400	4,470	4,240	1.27	-
1d	PSS	PMDETA	DPE	67	8,910	12,900	8,780	1.31	-
II*	PS	bpy	DPE	54	3,000	3,070	2,980	1.06	-
2d	PSS	bpy	DPE	50	6,690	12,500	13,200	1.44	-
3d	PSS	PMDETA	DMF	74	9,810	13,700	11,400	1.42	-
4e	PSS	bpy	DMF	58	7,730	12,800	13,500	1.45	-
5e	CP-SS	PMDETA	DPE	45	8,390	15,600	9,230	1.53	70:30
6e	CP-SS	bpy	DPE	26	4,920	5,570	3,790	1.10	50:30
7e	CP-SS	PMDETA	DMF	51	9,470	17,100	10,350	1.79	60:30
8e	CP-SS	bpy	DMF	37	6,920	17,500	12,500	2.26	50:30

[Monomer]_o = 4.0 M, [1-PEBr]_o = [CuBr]_o = 0.08 M, and [bpy(PMDETA)]_o = 0.24 M.

^aPolymerizations were performed at 110 °C for 24 h. [M]_o/[1-PEBr]_o/[CuBr]_o/[bpy(PMDETA)]_o = 100/2/2/6.

M_{n, th} = [{(MW)_M × Conversion × ([M]_o/[1-PEBr]_o)} + (MW)_1-PEBr].

^bDetermined by SEC using DMF as an eluent at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min⁻¹ at 40 °C (polystyrene standards).

^cDetermined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.

^dSS was used as a monomer.

^eS and SS were used as monomers.

* [59]

Figure 1 shows the SEC traces of PSS synthesized by the ATRP using CuBr/ bpy(PMDETA) catalytic system of SS in DPE or DMF. In the SEC traces, the molecular weight distributions (MWD) of PSS were moderate and unimodal (PDI1.5).

Figure 1.

SEC traces of PSS.

The structure of PSS was characterized by ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectra. From the ¹H NMR spectrum of PSS in Figure 2, the peaks appeared at 1.3–1.8 ppm and 6.5–7.7 ppm confirmed the present of aliphatic and aromatic protons, respectively. The peak positions of aromatic protons in PSS chains were shifted to down field than in PS due to the electronic effect of sulfonate group. In FT-IR spectrum of PSS in Figure 3, the typical stretching bands for C = C bonds in aromatic rings were found at 1560, 1489 and 1452 cm⁻¹. The asymmetrical and symmetrical stretching vibration peaks for S = O bond were observed at 1374 (strong) and 1181 (weak) cm⁻¹, respectively.

Figure 2.

¹H NMR spectra of PS, PSS, and CP-SS in CDCl_3.

Figure 3.

FTIR spectra of PS, PSS, PSSNa, CP-SS, CP-SSNa, and CP-SSH.

These results indicated that well-defined function-nal PSS successfully synthesized by the CuBr/ PMDETA catalyzed ATRP in DPE.

3.2. Synthesis of poly(p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate-co-styrene) CP-SS by ATRP

The properties of PS can be regulated by the copolymerization with a commoner [63,64]. After the successful synthesis of PSS, CP-SS was prepared by the copolymerization of 30 mol% SS with 70 mol% S using the same ATRP conditions that was employed in PSS, as illustrated in Scheme 1.

When ATRP was employed using bpy or PMDETA as a ligand in DPE or DMF, the yield of CP-SS was lower than PSS because ATRP catalyst may also coordinate with S = O of the SS comonomer which reduced the catalytic activity (entries 5–8 vs. 1–3). The M_n of CP-SS was higher than the calculated. The M_n was in good agreement with M_n,_th when bpy was used in DPE. Copolymerization of SS and S with PMDETA in DMF showed slightly high yield than in DPE. It may be possible that the polarity of DMF increases the solubility of catalysts and monomers that might have assisted the initiation. By contrast, high M_n was obtained due to the chain termination at the end of polymerization and the PDI (=1.79) values were also high. The rate of copolymerization was also increased when bpy was used in DMF and the M_n of CP-SS with high polydispersity (PDI = 2.26) was high probably owing to the chain termination at the end of polymerization.

Figure 4 exhibits the SEC traces of CP-SS prepared by the CuBr/bpy(PMDETA) catalyzed ATRP of SS with S in DPE or DMF. In SEC traces, the MWDs of CP-SS were broader when bpy or PMDETA was used in DMF than in DPE (entries 7 and 8).

Figure 4.

SEC traces of CP-SS.

In ¹H NMR spectrum of CP-SS in Figure 2, the peaks for aliphatic and aromatic protons of SS and S moieties in CP-SS chains were observed at 1.3–1.8 ppm and 6.5–7.5 ppm, respectively, which were found in PSS. The peak appeared at 1.10 ppm confirmed the present of chain-end methyl protons from 1-PEBr initiator in the PSS and CP-SS chains. The molar ratio of SS and S measured from the ¹H NMR spectrum was 60:30 that was close to the calculated one.

In FT-IR spectrum of CP-SS in Figure 3, the asymmetrical and symmetrical stretching vibrational bands for S = O bond were found at 1176 and 1376 cm⁻¹, respectively, that were exhibited in PSS. These results indicated that copolymerization of SS with S was successfully proceeded.

These above results confirmed that well-defined CP-SS was successfully synthesized using the suitable ATRP conditions as same as the SS polymerization.

3.3. Synthesis of poly(styrenesulfonate-co-styrene) CP-SSNa and poly(styrene sulfonic acid-co-styrene) CP-SSH by deprotection

PSSNa or CP-SSNa was obtained by the deprotect-tion of phenyl group in the SS moiety of polymer chain using three equivalents NaOH to SS moiety of PSS or CP-SS in a mixed solvent (THF/MeOH/H₂O = 50/10/1) at 50 °C for 24 h (Scheme 2). The yield and SSNa content in PSS and CP-SS were 89%, 4.78 mmol g⁻¹ and 90%, 2.18 mmol g⁻¹, respectively.

Scheme 2.

Synthesis of CP-SSH.

The broad absorption peaks found at 1189 cm⁻¹ and 1190 cm⁻¹ in the FT-IR spectra of PSSNa and CP-SSNa (Figure 3), respectively, confirmed the S = O bond in SO₃Na in both the homopolymer and copolymer. CP-SSH was prepared by treating of twenty equivalents conc. H₂SO₄ to SSNa moiety of CP-SSNa in THF. The yield and sulfonic acid content were in quantitative. FT-IR of CP-SSH in Figure 3 exhibited that broad absorption band assigned to stretching vibration of S = O bond in SO₃H. This result confirmed that CP-SSH was successfully prepared from the deprotection of CP-SS, followed by acidification.

3.4. Thermal properties

The thermal properties of CP-SS and CP-SSH were studied by TGA and DSC analysis. TGA and DSC thermograms for CP-SS and CP-SSH are shown in Figures 5(a,b). TGA of CP-SS showed that the degradation temperatures (T_d) of CP-SS (345 °C) were very close to T_d of polystyrene (PS) [65]. The T_d of CP-SSH were shifted to higher temperatures as a function of sulfonic acid (– SO₃H) groups, as compared to PS and CP-SS (from 345 °C to 375 °C). In endothermic DSC thermograms, the similar results were observed i.e., the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of CP-SSH were also shifted to higher temperatures due to the presence of polar – SO₃H groups in the polymer chains, as compared to PS and CP-SS (from 100 to 155 °C). The high T_g values of CP-SSH can be considered as an indicator of the increase of structural rigidity of CP-SSH chains.

Figure 5.

(a) TGA and (b) DSC thermograms of CP-SS and CP-SSH.

4. Conclusion

Well-defined functional poly(p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate) PSS and poly(p-phenyl styrenesulfonate-co-styrene) CP-SS were successfully synthesized by the CuBr/bpy(PMDETA) catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of p-phenyl styrene-sulfonate (SS) and copolymerization with styrene (S) comonomer using 1-PEBr as an initiator in DPE or DMF. The effects of ligand and solvent on the polymer yield, the molecular weights (M_n), and the polydispersity (PDI) were investigated. In PSS and CP-SS, the CuBr/PMDETA catalytic system in DPE or DME showed higher yield than CuBr/bpy and the polydispersity of polymer was low. Using PMDETA or bpy as a ligand in DMF, the high yield was obtained than in DPE and the PDI values were high. We found that the CuBr/PMDETA catalyzed ATRP of SS and copolymerization of SS with S in DPE proceeded in a controlled manner. CP-SSH containing sulfonic acid was obtained by the chemical deprotection of protecting group, followed by the acidification reaction. The molecular structure and molecular weights of the polymers were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), respectively. CP-SSH copolymers showed higher degradation temperatures with high T_g values, as compared to PS and CP-SS.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interests was reported by the author(s).