Synthesis of Bioinspired Copolymers: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation on Poly(vinyl Benzyl Thymine-co-Triethyl Ammonium Clhoride)

J VICH BERLANGA; N. CASIS; C LUCIANI; D. M. MARTINO; D. A. ESTENOZ; G. MEIRA

Lima

Simposio; XI Simposio Latinoamericano de Polimeros y IX Congreso Iberoamericano de Polimeros; 2008

SLAP

“Bioinspired” copolymers based on vinyl benzyl thymine (VBT) and an ionically-charged monomer (vinyl benzyl triethyl ammonium chloride or VBA), were synthesized and theoretically investigated. The ionic groups make the polymer water-soluble. When this polymer is irradiated with UV light, a photocyclization between adjacent thymines takes place, rendering it water-insoluble. The experiments involved different comonomers ratios and initiator concentrations. The reactions were carried out at 65 C in a batch-stirred tank reactor with 2,2’-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator and isopropanol as solvent (Table 1). A mathematical model that simulates the polymers synthesis was developed [Casis et al.]. Samples were taken along the reactions to determine: (i) monomer conversion by gravimetry, (ii) chemical composition by elemental analysis, and (iii) molecular weight distribution by size exclusion chromatography.