Synthesis of macromonomers via catalytic chain transfer (CCT) polymerization and their characterization via NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)

Macromonomers consisting of a butyl acrylate (BA) tail and α-methyl styrene (AMS) or benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) unsaturated termini were synthesized via catalytic chain transfer (CCT) polymerization employing the low spin bis(difluoroboryl)dimethylglyoximato cobalt (II) (COBF) complex. The structures of the generated macromonomers were characterized via ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). A variety of low molecular weight (M_n < 4 000 g · mol^-1) BA/AMS and BA/BzMA macromonomers were generated by varying the reactions conditions. The generated BA/AMS macromonomers are shown to be terminated by an AMS moiety while consisting of n units of BA plus 1 to 3 units of AMS. The structures of the synthesized BA/BzMA macromonomers give a more complex mixture. Apart from BzMA terminated macromonomer chains consisting of n units of BA plus 1 to 3 units of BzMA, pure BA macromonomers were also generated.