BLOCK COPOLYMER SYNTHESIS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of preparing, in an alcohol-based medium, colloidally stable polymeric particles comprising an alcohol-insoluble block copolymer of Formula B : Formula B wherein P1 represents an alcohol-soluble polymeric component derived from a suitable monomer M1 and P2 represents a substantially alcohol-insoluble polymeric component derived from an alcohol-soluble monomer M2. The block copolymer of Formula B is formed by a radical addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation of the alcohol-soluble M2 monomers in the presence of an alcohol-soluble macromolecular chain transfer agent (macro- CTA) of the formula P1-X, where X is a suitable RAFT chain transfer agent. The resulting diblock copolymer particles are formed in situ during the course of the RAFT polymerisation reaction. As such, particles of varying size, morphology and surface charge can be duly prepared with very high monomer conversions for M2 by varying the reaction conditions.