Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization Methods of Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)

Abstract

Polymers are made of repeating units called monomers that are connected by covalent bonds. Some common applications for polymers include plastic water bottles (high-density polyethylene or HDPE), latex gloves, and piping used for plumbing (polyvinyl chloride or PVC). "Smart" polymers have tunable physical properties dependent on pH, temperature, and salt concentration. Some applications of smart polymers include drug delivery, cosmetics and catalysis. Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) is a "smart" polymer. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a polymerization method that yields control over polymer structure. The purpose of this study was to synthesize PDMAEMA using ATRP, and additional chemistry was used to alter the functionality of polymer chains.