Homogeneous reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and ring-opening reaction of the pendant oxirane ring

The homogeneous reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (reverse ATRP) of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was carried out in bulk, using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator and N,N-n-butyldithiocarbamate copper (Cu(SC(S)N(C4H9)2)2) as the catalyst. The polymerization showed typical controlled/'living' polymerization behavior, i.e. first-order kinetics, well-controlled molecular weight (Mn) and narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn). 1H NMR and IR spectra showed that the pendant epoxy groups in PGMA polymer remained intact throughout the polymerization of GMA. A phosphorated PGMA (PPGMA) polymer was obtained by phosphonation reaction of the pendant epoxy groups in PGMA with diphenylphosphinic chloride (DPPC). Thermal behavior of the PPGMA was studied by TG and DTG. A major DTG peak at 340 °C was observed for the PPGMA.