Project R-12788

Fundamental development of continuous flow technology toward photomediated polymerization of diverse building blocks (Research)

Continuous flow technology enables the synthesis of various complex organic chemicals (e.g. pharmaceuticals) with greatly improved efficiency compared with conventional multi-step batch synthesis. Translation of continuous flow principles to emerging polymerization techniques is still in its infancy. This is particularly true for novel photomediated polymerization protocols, whose fundamental process–reactivity relationships have only recently begun to be explored. As momentum builds in the field of controlled photopolymerizations of (cyclic) olefins and (cyclic) esters, a systematic merging of these approaches will enable access to structurally unique macromolecules. The aim of this project is to develop a fundamental understanding of how the process of state-of-the-art reactor technology for continuous flow polymerization influences polymer composition, topology, and function. This scalable technology will be explored for the process intensification of novel controlled photo-mediated polymerizations employing several orthogonal mechanisms including reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP), ring-opening transesterification polymerization (ROTEP) and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Photomediated chemistry related to these various mechanisms remains at the forefront of current trends. They are ripe for further development, with high impact throughout the polymer community.

01 August 2022 - 31 July 2026