Synthesis and Characterization of Polysulfone-based Graft Copolymers Possessing Quaternary Ammonium Salts via Photoiniferter Polymerization

Abstract

Well-defined polysulfone-based graft copolymers containing quaternary ammonium saltswere successfully prepared by photoiniferter method under mild conditions (at room temperatureand nitrogen atmosphere). The corresponding macroiniferter agent was sequentially synthesized bychloromethylation and nucleophilic substitution reactions between obtained chloromethylatedpolysulfone and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. Upon UV irradiation, this macroiniferter enabledthe accomplished grafting of 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate onto the polysulfone backbonein a controlled manner. After the successful synthesis of graft copolymers, the tertiary amine groupsin the side-chains are readily quaternized using methyl iodide to get desired quaternary ammoniumsalts containing graft copolymers.