Synthesis of Poly(lauryl acrylate) by Single-Electron Transfer/Degenerative Chain Transfer Living Radical Polymerization Catalyzed by Na2S2O4 in Water

Living radical polymerization of lauryl acrylate was achieved by SET/DTLRP in water catalyzed by sodium dithionite. The work describes the synthesis of a highly hydrophobic and polar monomer in aqueous medium. The plots of Mn versus conversion and ln[M] 0 /[M] versus time are linear, indicating a controlled polymerization. This method leads to α,ω -diiodopoly(lauryl acrylate)s that can be further functionalized. The MWDs were determined using a combination of three detectors: RALLS, DV, and RI. The method studied in this work represents a possible route to prepare well-tailored macromolecules made of LA in environment friendly reaction medium. The syndiotactic content is 75%.