Synthesis by self-condensing AGET ATRP and solution properties of arborescent poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-N-propane sulfonate)

Randomly branched (arborescent) poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-N-propanesulfonates) (NaPAMPS) were synthesized via self-condensing vinyl polymerization using activators generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP). The controlled self-condensing AGET ATRP of NaAMPS was realized in the presence of 2-(2-bromopropionyloxy)ethyl acrylate (BPEA) as a branching monomer (inimer) in water/pyridine (35–50% of Py) mixed solvents. The content of BPEA in the reaction feed was varied from 10 to 30 wt% allowing the synthesis of NaPAMPS with different degree of branching. SEC determined molecular weight of the prepared NaPAMPS was Mw = 94 000–120 000 g/mol, and the accompanying polydispersity index PDI ranged from 1.84 to 2.47. The definite evidence of highly branched structure of NaPAMPS was provided by the dependence of radius of gyration Rg on weight-average molecular weight Mw with characteristic slope a = 0.38–0.42, and by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. Molecular parameters, conformation and dynamics of the branched NaPAMPS in dilute salt-free solutions and in the presence of a salt were elucidated by static and dynamic light scattering and SAXS.