(121e) Synthesis and Characterization of Polymers Containing Single-Ion per Chain

We present the synthesis strategy of polymers containing single quaternary ammonium ion per chain at an arbitrary position using controlled anionic polymerization technique and the structure characterization results of the quaternary-ammonium-containing polymers in bulk and hydrated states. The placement of single quaternary ammonium group in a polymer chain was achieved by using amine-functionalized diphenylethylene (A-DPE) that has unique polymerization kinetics, i.e., the A-DPE monomer cannot self-polymerize due to the large steric hindrance but can initiate polymerization of vinyl monomers with less steric hindrance. We successfully synthesized monomodal and nearly monodisperse polystyrene polymers containing single A-DPE monomer at the one end of chains and the middle of the chains. The X-ray scattering characterization shows that the polymers containing quaternary ammonium in the middle of chains form smaller ion aggregates.