Chemical Modification of Polymer and Synthesis of Functional Polymer using Phase Transfer Catalyst

Abstract

Chemical modification of polymers containing pendant chlorine was investigated using phase transfer catalysis, which is a very simple and convenient method for polymer synthesis as well as organic syntesis. The reactions of polymers containing chlorine such as poly (chloromethylstyrene), poly (epichlorohydrin), and poly (2-chloroethylvinyl ether) with various nucleophilic reagents composed from alkalimetal salts were carried out under three different reaction systems, solid-liquid, liquid-liquid, and solid-liquid-solid systems in the presence of phase transfer catalysts (PTCs). The reactions were strongly influenced by the kind of PTC, concentration, concentration of reagent, reaction solvent, and the combination of PTC and nucleophilic reagent. From these results, it was found that the reactions proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding polymers under mild conditions.
Synthesis of some functional polymers such as photosensitive polymers, multi-functional polymers, and solar energy storage polymers with pendant norbornadiene moieties was performed using PTC based on the above information.