co300044w_si_001.pdf (84.21 kB)
Automated Parallel Freeze–Evacuate–Thaw Degassing Method for Oxygen-Sensitive Reactions: RAFT Polymerization
journal contribution
posted on 2012-07-09, 00:00 authored by Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez, Daniel J. Keddie, Simon Saubern, John ChiefariAn automated and parallel freeze–evacuate–thaw
degassing
method in a commercially available synthesizer is disclosed and tested
for its applicability to reversible addition–fragmentation
chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The effectiveness of this method
to eliminate oxygen in polymerization reactions is demonstrated by
directly comparing it against experiments performed using conventional
laboratory techniques. Apart from the demonstrated accuracy, the proposed
method has also shown significant precision when performing RAFT polymerizations.
The reported experimental technique can be easily adapted to other
chemical systems where the removal of oxygen is mandatory. This new
high-throughput method has the potential to significantly increase
the productivity and/or research outcomes in laboratories where oxygen-sensitive
reactions are carried out.