Selective deprotection of tertiary-butyl (tert-Bu) ester in poly(n-butyl methacrylate-b-tert-butyl methacrylate) was studied via heterogeneous acid catalysts and flow reactors. We found that selective deprotection of tert-Bu ester was achieved successfully using an acidic macroreticular polymeric catalyst, Amberlyst 35DRY, packed in a flow reactor. The deprotection process required 15 min of residence time at 180 °C to give an acidic poly(n-butyl methacrylate-b-methacrylic acid) with a small polydispersity index (Ð) value such as 1.28.
- Ryo Takabayashi
- Stephan Feser
- Takahide Fukuyama
