Date Approved
2016
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department or School
Chemistry
Committee Member
Gregg Wilmes
Committee Member
Harriet Lindsay
Committee Member
Donald Snyder
Abstract
Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) can act to catalyze numerous organic reactions. To increase its recovery and reuse, it has been tethered to dendrimers and to micellar systems, creating nano-scale catalytic pockets for reactions to proceed. Previously developed systems show diminished reactivity over time as the products of the reaction fill up the nano-scale reactor. Thus, the goal of my research is to use RAFT polymerization methods to synthesize a hydrophobic polymer chain bearing 4-methylaminopyridine units and to attach it to a hydrophilic polymer chain to create a polymer system capable of micelle formation in solution. These functionalized micelles are designed to be selectively opened and closed by changing the temperature, thus allowing the product to be removed from the micelle and avoiding the diminished catalytic activity that other polymer-supported catalytic systems show. A monomer with DMAP-like activity was made by reacting 4-methylaminopyridine with 3-isopropenyl-α,α-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate that could be polymerized into a hydrophobic polymer chain, and progress towards polymerizing the functionalized monomer was made.
Recommended Citation
Fredricks, Richard Arthur, "Synthesis of DMAP tethered polymer chains for reversible micelle formation" (2016). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 770.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/770