Studies on the end group stability of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) during the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) process are presented. Polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide was conducted in different solvents using a copper(I) chloride/Me6Tren catalyst complex. The influence of the ATRP solvent as well as the polymer purification process on the end group stability was investigated. For the first time, mass spectrometry results clearly underline the loss of ω end groups via an intramolecular cyclization reaction. Furthermore, an ATRP system based on a copper(I) bromide/Me6Tren catalyst complex was introduced, that showed not only good control over the polymerization process, but also provided the opportunity of block copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide with acrylates and other N-substituted acrylamides. The polymers were characterized using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Polymer end groups were determined via ESI-TOF mass spectrometry enhanced by ion mobility separation (IMS).
Keywords: ESI-TOF mass spectrometry; N-isopropylacrylamide; atom transfer radical polymerization; block copolymerization; controlled radical polymerization; end group determination; ion mobility separation; lower critical solution temperature; size exclusion chromatography; smart polymers; temperature sensitive polymers.