Controlled radical polymerization: from new metal mediators to novel polymer frameworks

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This proposal will develop sustainable materials of economic importance using fiscally and environmentally responsible mediators to control the polymerization process. Our expertise lies in the control of radical polymerizations, specifically the use of vanadium-based complexes to control the production of vinyl acetate based plastics and the use of aluminum complexes to control the orientation of biodegradable plastics with unique macro- and micro-structures. In this context, macrostructures refer to molecular frameworks like brushes, stars and combs while microstructure refers to the relative molecular orientation of the units in our polymer chains. From this expertise we are pursuing transformative goals in two areas. The first will expand our work on controlled radical polymerizations and (a) generate improved catalysts with longer lifetimes, better thermal properties and tunable scope, (b) expand the range of monomers to include renewable fatty acids and (c) generate macrostructures with unique properties as value-added materials. The second will incorporate both macrostructure and microstructure control into the synthesis of macromolecular structures. We will generate poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(lactic acid) polymer brushes with potential applications in drug delivery and nanotechnology, expand our work on stereoselective catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of renewable lactide monomers and prepare poly(vinyl alcohol) block copolymers as amphiphilic materials that will self assemble into defined structures including micelles. A key target is the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers through either a mild hydrolysis route or a switchable reversible-addition-fragmentation-transfer (RAFT) mediator. The research we propose will have a profound impact on the polymer chemistry community in the short term and will also produce new-to-the-world macromolecules with potential applications in biomedical, pharmaceutical and materials technology fields. Along with developing innovative science we will also be training undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders for the future of Canadian scientific advancement.