Synthesis and MALDI-TOF characterization of β -CD core ATRP initiators and RAFT chain transfers with different degrees of substitution

In this paper, three different kinds of β-CD derivatives were synthesized as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator or reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) chain transfers. The degree of substitution for each derivative was carefully characterized through 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The factors influencing the degree of substitution were discussed. Moreover, the comparison between ATRP and RAFT was shown in the polymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM).