Quaternary ammonium salt approach for light and thermo dual stimulus-triggered RAFT polymerization

Abstract

The utility of multiple stimuli to induce reversible deactivation radical polymerizations (RDRPs) is a challenge in synthetic macromolecules. Herein, the quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) generated in situ from methyl bromophenylacetate (MBPA) and N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) is reported for the first time. Moreover, QAS generated in situ serving as radical precursors can be successfully employed to trigger RAFT polymerization in response to light and heat due to high reactivity of C-N bond. The living features are confirmed by polymerization kinetics and chain extension experiments in both cases. More interesting, stimulus-triggered radical release from the in situ formed QAS is able to develop logic-controlled RAFT polymerization with heat and light.