MALDI-TOF MS Investigation of the RAFT Polymerization of a Water-Soluble Acrylamide Derivative

摘要: A matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI−TOF MS) study of N-acryloylmorpholine (NAM) homopolymers, as obtained by reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique, is reported. Polymerization NAM was performed in dioxane using azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) initiator and tert-butyl dithiobenzoate RAFT agent. Polymer samples low molecular weights (<10 000 g mol-1) polydispersity indices (PDI < 1.1) were obtained, which are essential requirements for such MALDI−TOF MS analysis. First, analysis poly(NAM) linear mode led to values very close both size exclusion chromatography/light scattering (SEC/LS) 1H NMR well the theoretical ones. Then, an accurate examination end groups reflectron mode. Two main populations identified:  (i) dormant chains (i.e., initiated a terminated group) t...