Evaluation of the Photodimerization of 4-vinyl(benzyl) Thymine and 4-vinyl(benzyl) Trialkyl Ammonium Chloride Polymers and Copolymers Induced by Ultraviolet Light

K.C MCDONOUGH; R.A. KOELLN; N. CHEN; K.Y. DUPUY; C.M. NORMAND; B. TRAN; S. BORTOLATO; D.M. MARTINO; R. GURNEY

Austin Texas

Conferencia; 5th Annual TECHCON Conference, Semiconductor Research Corporation; 2013

TECHCON

The study of bio-inspired polymers had grown enormously in last few years as a consequence of the environmental and toxicological problems liked to the synthesis and non-degradability of traditional plastics. The synthesis of polymers containing 4-vynil-benzyl-thymine (VBT) acquired particular significance and had opened the possibility of producing a wide variety of polymers soluble in water and able to crosslink reversibly when irradiated with UV light. These environmentally benign polymers are based on a polystyrene (PS) backbone, to which two types of pendant groups are added. Charged functional groups allow for water solubility, while thymine groups in the presence of UV light (λ ~ 270) undergo a dimerization reaction, resulting in polymer chain crosslink. Crosslinked polymers become insoluble due to high molecular weight and complex structure of the resulting network. This allows for potential use of VBT polymers in a wide variety of applications: in microelectronic industry, coatings and adhesives, chromatography, photolithography, solar cells, controlled drug release (medicines and pesticides), personal care products, etc. The dimerization of thymine can be reversed, either enzymatically or by irradiation with UV light (at λ ~ 240 nm), after which the polymer becomes soluble again and can be reused for subsequent applications.