Biography

Makoto Ouchi is a Professor at Kyoto University (2017-present).
He was awarded the SPSJ (Society Polymer Sciences, Japan) academic award in 2018.
Prof M. Ouchi’s expertise is focused during the last decade on the following research projects:

  • Sequence-Controlled Polymers
  • Tacticity-Controlled Polymers
  • Degradable Polymers
  • Junction-Modified Block Copolymers
  • Design of New Monomers

Abstract

We have designed some pendant-transformable monomers suitable for selective radical cyclopolymerization (12)1,2, alternating radical copolymerization (24)3,4, and stereospecific radical polymerization (5)5 to achieve a library synthesis of sequence-controlled polymers and isotactic polymers.  Importantly, the polymerizations and the post-polymerization modifications allowed syntheses of such (co)polymers made of commodity monomer units such as (meth)acrylate, styrene, acrylamide, and vinyl ether carrying various pendant groups.  The properties/functions derived from sequence and tacticity were also evaluated through comparison with the non-controlled counterparts.

References

  1. Kametani, Y.; Tournilhac, F.; Sawamoto, M.; Ouchi, M., Unprecedented Sequence Control and Sequence-Driven Properties in a Series of AB-Alternating Copolymers Consisting Solely of Acrylamide Units. Chem., Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 5193-5201.
  2. Shibata, K.; Kametani, Y.; Daito, Y.; Ouchi, M., Homopolymer-block-Alternating Copolymers Composed of Acrylamide Units: Design of Transformable Divinyl Monomers and Sequence-Specific Thermoresponsive Properties. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 9959-9970.
  3. Kametani, Y.; Ouchi, M., One-Pot Preparation of Methacrylate/Styrene Alternating Copolymers via Radical Copolymerization and Alcoholysis Modification: Sequence Impacts on Glass Transition Temperature. ACS Polymers Au 2021, 1, 10-15.
  4. Lai, H.; Jin, C.; Park, J.; Ikura, R.; Takashima, Y.; Ouchi, M., A Transformable and Bulky Methacrylate Monomer That Enables the Synthesis of an MMA-nBA Alternating Copolymer: Sequence-Dependent Self-Healing Properties. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62, No. e202218597.
  5. Pan, Y.; Ouchi, M., Stereospecific Radical Polymerization of a Side-Chain Transformable Bulky Acrylamide Monomer and Subsequent Post-Polymerization Modification for Syntheses of Isotactic Polyacrylate and Polyacrylamide. Chem., Int. Ed., 2023, 62, No. e202308855.