Synthesis and characterization of new materials with precisely controlled macromolecular dimensions, functionalities and composition as well as with well-defined topologies is the ultimate goal of contemporary polymer science. For many years control of molecular architecture and functionalities in radical polymerization was very difficult. However, recently controlled/living polymerizations have been extended to radical systems which are not only commercially the most important but also have the largest potential due to availability of polymerizable monomers, facile copolymerization and undemanding reaction conditions. Therefore, controlled/living radical polymerization of vinyl monomers expands and enhances fundamental knowledge. This proposal requests support for 3 US assistant professors, 3 postdoctoral fellows and 3 graduate students to participate in the Symposium on "Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization" at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Denver, CO, August 28-31, 2011. The Symposium will cover recent advances in controlled/living systems. Three general approaches to controlled radical polymerization will be highlighted. This includes use of nitroxides and other organic stable radicals, application of metal catalyzed polymerization such as atom transfer radical polymerization, and techniques employing chain transfer and addition-fragmentation chemistry, including inifers. The lectures will cover mechanisms, synthesis and characterization of materials with novel molecular architectures, functionalities and composition. The symposium will include one tutorial and 7 regular sessions with approximately eighty lectures and 6 poster sessions. The meeting will allow to exchange and disseminate information among researchers from various countries and many US academic (including graduate students and postdoctoral fellows), governmental and industrial laboratories.
Controlled radical polymerization is among the most rapidly developing areas of polymer and materials science. It impacts many advanced technologies enabling unprecedented advances in biomedical materials, optoelectronics, environmentally related areas and other areas such as coatings, lubricants, adhesives, additives, surfactants, dispersants and health and beauty products. Thus, knowledge generated during the 2011 Denver Symposium on "Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization" will benefit many participants, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, their advisors as well researchers from governmental and industrial laboratories. As in the case of the previous 2008 ACS Symposium on "Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization" held in Philadelphia, the PI plans to publish proceedings with the major lectures presented at the meeting.
Report on the activities related to the NSF proposal # 1122575 (support towards travel expenses for US participants in ACS Symposium "Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization" in Denver, CO, August 28-31, 2011 Krzysztof Matyjaszewski (Carnegie Mellon University) The ACS Symposium on "Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization" in Denver, CO, August 28-31, 2011, covered recent advances in controlled/living radical polymerization systems. The meeting was co-organized by Matyjaszewski – Carnegie Mellon, Sumerlin and Tsarevsky (both from Southern Methodist University, Dallas) with one tutorial session and 7 regular oral sessions and 6 poster sessions. 96 oral presentations and 83 posters covered mechanisms, synthetic techniques and characterization of materials with novel molecular architectures, functionalities and composition for specific applications. The NSF funding was used to support the following US participants: two assistant professors, two postdoctoral fellows and five graduate students who presented lectures and posters. The meeting allowed the exchange and dissemination of information among over 400 US and foreign participants, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, their advisors as well as researchers from governmental and industrial laboratories. Two volume proceedings with major lectures presented at the meeting were published by ACS in March 2012 in electronic format and will be also published in hard copy format in August 2012: "Progress in Controlled Radical Polymerization: Mechanisms and Techniques" by Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Brent Sumerlin and Nicolay V. Tsarevsky (Editors); Hardcover: 345 pages; Publisher: American Chemical Society; Washington, D.C., 2012; ISBN: 978-0-8412-2699-9 and "Progress in Controlled Radical Polymerization: Materials and Applications", by Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Brent Sumerlin and Nicolay V. Tsarevsky (Editors); Hardcover: 327 pages; Publisher: American Chemical Society; Washington, D.C., 2012; ISBN: 978-0-8412-2756-9.
