2nd Annual CONTROLLED POLYMER SYNTHESIS

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Overview

This second annual conference focuses on evaluating the commercial viability of the production of novel structures and advanced materials through the controlled synthesis of polymers. The advantages and limitations of a variety of polymerization technologies will be examined and the latest technological advances and application strategies in controlled polymer synthesis will be covered.

In addition to patent and licensing policies and issues concerning controlled polymer synthesis, our respected international faculty will provide you with the most recent advances in:

Living radical polymerization
Ionic processes
Olefin polymerization
Dendritic macromolecules
High throughput application
Application of new polymer architectures

This forum provides a proactive step to identify overall industry objectives, concerns and challenges with processing and potential solutions to cost-effectively apply the latest R&D efforts to assemble structurally complex macromolecules.

Don't miss this opportunity to discuss new approaches and innovative strategies in the commercialization of controlled polymer synthesis with top experts from today's most prominent industry and academic labs. Early registration ensures your participation. Reserve your spot today!

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Agenda

Monday, December 4, 2000

8:00 Registration, Exhibit and Poster Set-Up,
Coffee and Danish

Process Technology Session

9:00 Chairperson's Opening Remarks
Michael Georges, Principal Scientist, Xerox Research Centre of Canada

9:05 Making Well-Defined Polymers the Other Way: Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, J.C. Warner Professor of Natural Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University
Copper-based Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) with polydentate nitrogen ligands is among the most efficient controlled/living radical polymerization systems. ATRP of styrenes, (meth)acrylates and other vinyl monomers provides polymers with molecular weights in a large range 200>Mn>2,000,000 and with low polydispersities (<1.2). Polymers with new topologies, compositions and functionalities were synthesized. Polymers formed by ionic, metathesis and polycondensation processes and inorganic/biopolymers were successfully combined with ATRP yielding new hybrids. The (co)polymers made by ATRP can lead to potential applications as components of coatings, polar thermoplastic elastomers, adhesives, surfactants, dispersants, lubricants, additives and specialty materials in electronic and biomedical areas.

9:40 A Radical Approach to Control of Polymer Architectures - RAFT Polymerization
Graeme Moad, Chief Research Scientist,
CSIRO Molecular Science
Radical polymerization with Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT Polymerization) provides a method for precise control of polymer architecture which retains most of the important advantages of conventional free radical polymerization: simplicity of implementation, tolerance of a wide range of reaction conditions, wide variety of monomer available for polymerization or copolymerization. This talk will address some of the advantages and limitations of the technique and focus on the design of optimal reaction conditions and recent work aimed at controlling polymer architecture.

10:15 Exhibit/Poster Viewing and Refreshment Break

10:40 Living Radical Polymerization Using RAFT - How to Apply This System to Emulsion Polymerization
Michael J Monteiro, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
"Living" radical polymerization using RAFT will be presented. In particular, utilizing mechanistic information to successfully prepare designer polymers in dispersed media (i.e. emulsion and miniemulsion systems). The effect of the RAFT agent on the rate of polymerization, molecular weight distribution and stability of the emulsion will be discussed.

11:15 Commercialization of Polymers Synthesized with Controlled Radical Technologies: Case Histories
Robert R. Matheson, Jr., Technical Manager for Strategic Technology, DuPont Performance Coatings
Macromolecule compositions that have been made with conventional free radical techniques can show improved performance when upgraded with modern controlled radical polymerization. However, it is not always easy to identify the particular structural flaws that degrade performance and thereby constitute commercially attractive targets for application of control. Actual examples of successful commercialization will be described in order illustrate the process of matching problem with structural control strategy.
11:50 Lunch, sponsored by The Knowledge Foundation

1:10 Chairperson's Remarks
Rudolf Pfaendner, Head of Polymer Design & Recycling, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Germany

1:15 Nitroxyl Compounds for Controlled Free Radical Polymerization, Improvements and New Applications
Rudolf Pfaendner
Abstract not available at time of print.

1:55 Combinatorial Living-Radical Emulsion Polymerization
Michael Georges, Principal Scientist, Xerox Research Centre of Canada
The use of combinatorial chemistry to expand and optimize our SFRP emulsion results will be presented. Since the emulsion process is readily scalable, it provides an opportunity to develop living-radical chemistry that can eventually be commercialized. Highlighted will be the ability to make block copolymers by an emulsion living-radical polymerization process.

2:30 Synthesis of Novel Copolymers via Controlled Radical Polymerization
Enrique Saldivar, Research Group Leader, CID-GIRSA, Mexico
Our current efforts at GIRSA are focused on two R&D programs: i) development of novel block and graft copolymers based on the use of nitroxyl compounds and, ii) synthesis of block copolymers using organic compounds that seem to follow a mechanism of degenerative transfer and have not been previously reported as controlling agents. In this talk we will present a progress report on this R&D program, highlighting commercial aspects of the investigated systems.

3:05 Exhibit/Poster Viewing and Refreshment Break

3:30 Iniferter: A History of Free Radial Chemistry to Living Radical Polymerization
Akikazu Matsumoto, Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka City University, Japan
I will present the concept of iniferter and model for living radical polymerization using iniferters. I revisit the development of the studies of living radical polymerization in recent decades, and discuss the importance of controlled radical polymerization with iniferters as the prototype of modern living radical polymerization.

4:05 Olefin Polymerization by NON-Metallocene Group 4 Metal Complexes
Richard R. Schrock, Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
An increasing number of examples of olefin polymerization by group 4 complexes that do not contain a cyclopentadienyl ring are being discovered. The mechanism by which they are activated and polymerize olefins is thought to be analogous to that for metallocene cations, but there are some significant differences. One class of complexes that has been relatively well-studied employs diamido ligands. In this case it is now clear that beta hydride elimination (or beta hydride transfer to monomer) can be very much slower than propagation to the point where the systems become living. Living polymerizations have one significant advantage from the point of view of mechanisms, namely alkyl intermediates can be observed by NMR techniques, and detailed kinetic studies become possible. Several recent systems, in particular dialkyl complexes of zirconium that contain diamido/donor ligands such as [(t-Bu-N-o-C6H4)2O]2-, [(ArylNCH2CH2)2O]2- (e.g., Aryl = 2,6-Me2C6H3), or [(ArylNCH2CH2)2NR]2-, will be discussed in detail.

4:45 Macromolecular Structure Control Using Dendritic Polymerization Principles
Donald A. Tomalia, Scientific Director/Senior Research Scientist, Center for Biologic Nanotechnology,
University of Michigan Medical School
A fourth major polymer class-"dendritic macromolecules" consists of three subclasses; namely, (a) random hyperbranched, (b) dendrigrafts and (c) dendrimers. Synthesis, characterization and unique properties/applications offered by these dendritic architectures will be overviewed.

5:20 Controlled Polymer Synthesis by Cationic Polymerization
Rudolf Faust, Professor of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Fifteen years after the original discovery, living cationic polymerization evolved to a stage when the controlled synthesis of linear or star-branched (co)polymers with controlled molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, block sequence and end-functionality can be readily accomplished. Some of these technologies have recently been commercialized. These will be critically evaluated in comparison with recent advances in cationic macromolecular engineering in general and the synthesis of functional polymers and block copolymers in particular. In addition recent efforts for the determination of the rate constants of elementary reactions in cationic polymerization will be reviewed.

6:00 End of Day One

Tuesday, December 5, 2000

8:00 Exhibit/Poster Viewing & Coffee and Danish

8:30 Chairperson's Opening Remarks
David M Haddleton, Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

8:35 Selected Oral Poster Presentations

Patent and Licensing Session

9:05 How Patents Can Protect Your Commercial Product
Andrew D Meikle, Patent Attorney, Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Understanding how to protect your commercial polymer product or process with a patent, as well as how to avoid a competitor's patent, are fundamental to competing in today's marketplace. Proper research record keeping procedures can enhance the strength of a patent and provide a basis for weakening the patent of a competitor. Recent changes in patent laws now allow for more flexibility in filing patent applications. Patent rights can be licensed or used as an effective negotiating tool with competitors.

9:40 Factors to Consider for Licensing Decisions in the Area of Controlled Radical Polymerization
Robert R. Matheson, Jr., Technical Manager for Strategic Technology, DuPont Performance Coatings
Patterns of historical licensing practice differ in different areas of commercial technology. In particular there are important distinctions in what might be expected from licensing rights to a general material with many market outlets as compared with rights to a general process which any licensee will only exploit for a particular material. Controlled Radical Polymerization might be viewed either way and the pros and cons of both points of view will be discussed.

10:15 Exhibit/Poster Viewing and Refreshment Break

Controlled Polymer Application Session

10:40 New Effect Polymer from Living Radical Polymerization - A Realistic Apprasial of New Opportunities for this Technology
David M Haddleton, Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Living radical polymerization provides new polymer architectures unavailable by other techniques. The chemistry allows many monomers containing a diverse range of functionality to be incorporated into macromolecules with designed architecture and function. The chemistry is relatively expensive in terms of reagents and product purification and is thus most suited to polymers with new and novel applications, effect polymers. This presentation will explore these concepts.

11:15 Controlled Polymer Architectures in Home and Personal Products Areas
Ezat Khosdel, Unilever Research, Unilever, UK
Functional polymers play a key role in many home and personal products and cosmetics. Examples of such systems include shampoos, conditioners and styling products such as hair sprays, mousses, gels and so on. This presentation will give an introduction to the evolution of functional polymers in the cosmetic field. Furthermore, several examples of novel polymer architectures which are being developed in recent years will be described.

11:50 High Throughput Synthesis and Screening of Polymeric Materials at Symyx
Dominique Charmot, Director, Polymer Chemistry, Symyx Technologies, Inc.
Combinatorial chemistry is central in drug discovery and has been adapted in areas of research ranging from the synthesis of small organic molecules to complex natural products. Combinatorial methodologies have been recently introduced into polymer chemistry, and Symyx in particular has developed screening platforms aiming at the discovery of new polymeric materials. Using robotic tools, libraries of polymers are designed, synthesized, and screened in a consistent workflow that allows identification of the most successful new materials out of thousands of candidates. The implementation of such discovery platforms will be illustrated through some examples in controlled free radical polymerization.

12:30 End of Conference

Call for Posters

Selected Oral Presentations and Call for Posters
Industry, government and academic researchers are encouraged to submit poster abstracts for this event. One-page abstracts (8 1/2” x 11” with 1-inch margins) must be submitted no later than November 1, 2000 for inclusion in the program course book. Additional poster submissions will be accepted until November 15, 2000 but may not be included in the course book. Note: The poster board reservation fee is $35. If you are submitting a poster, you MUST be registered and paid in advance to ensure that a poster board is reserved for you.

Time has been allocated during the program for selected oral delegate poster presentations. Attending delegates are encouraged to submit poster abstracts for short, oral technical presentations to be held during the meeting. To be considered for an oral presentation you must be a paid registered delegate. Please submit a one page abstract by November 1, 2000.

Sponsorship & Exhibit Opportunities
Take advantage of tailored opportunities to reach a very targeted, decision-making audience. We offer a variety of packages, each designed to maximize your organization's exposure and facilitate networking at this event. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your products to a large audience of attendees qualified to make purchasing decision as well as demonstrate your company. s position as a leader in this market.

Conference Sponsorships
A variety of conference sponsorships are available which offer incremental levels of visibility to conference delegates at the event - as well as opportunities for marketing exposure prior to the event. Taking advantage of pre-conference options has the added benefit of getting your organization's name out to a large group of interested decision makers.

Networking Event Sponsorships
These "mini" sponsorships offer representatives of your organization a dedicated opportunity to network with conference delegates - with your organization clearly recognized as the host of the event.

• Cocktail Receptions
• Luncheons
• Dinner Banquets
• Hospitality Suites

Workshop Sponsorships
Your company may sponsor an instructional workshop (subject to approval) for delegates in conjunction with the conference. Highlight your organization's expertise! Delegate feedback indicates that these scientific/technical vehicles enhance retention of your organization's presence in their minds - increasing the potential for drawing customers long after the conference is over. Call Craig Wohlers at (617) 232-7400 ext. 205 or email today for pricing information and customization options.

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