1,2,3-triazole functionalized polystyrene and perdeuterated polystyrene chelating latexes

Emulsifier-free polystyrene latexes with immobilized triazolic residues have been prepared by batch emulsion copolymerization of styrene with 1,2,3-triazole-based acrylic monomers containing diethylene or triethylene glycol monomethyl ether groups DEGTz and TEGTz, respectively. The effect of monomer structure and concentration on polymerization conversion, particle size, and morphology was investigated. Particle composition was also evidenced by 1H-NMR analysis. It was found that DEGTz monomer with the shorter pegylated chain allows the formation of the smaller particles with a better control of polytriazole water soluble oligomers formation. DEGTz and TEGTz were then used in batch and shot-growth polymerization of styrene-d8 in the aim to highlight the effect of deuterium isotope substitution. It was shown that the use of deuterated styrene significantly impacts the polymerization conversion as well as particle size and shape regardless of the monomer structure. Shot-growth process disadvantaged the copolymer particle formation in favor of obtaining water soluble polymers. This was confirmed from the NMR study and from the large values of surface charge density of latexes obtained from electrophoretic mobility.