Photoinduced Proton-Transfer Polymerization: A Practical Synthetic Tool for Soft Lithography Applications

J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Feb 19;142(7):3479-3488. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b11958. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Abstract

Proton-transfer photopolymerization through the thiol-epoxy "click" reaction is shown to be a versatile new method for the fabrication of micro- and nanosized polymeric patterns. In this approach, complexation of a guanidine base, diazabicycloundecene (DBU), with benzoylphenylpropionic acid (ketoprofen) generates a photolabile salt. Under illumination at a wavelength of 365 nm, the salt undergoes a photodecarboxylation reaction to release DBU as a base. The base-catalyzed ring opening reaction then creates cross-linked poly(β-hydroxyl thio-ether) patterns. The surface chemistry of these patterns can be altered through alkylation of the thio-ether linkages. For example, a reaction with bromoacetic acid produces a hitherto unknown sulfonium/carboxylate-based zwitterionic motif that endows antibiofouling capacity to the micropatterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't