Abstract Molded articles formed of polystyrene or other polymers containing an aromatic moiety can be derivatized on the surface of the article by subjecting the molded article to a chemical reaction wherein the reaction media utilizes tetramethylsulfone as the reactant solvent and a suitable substituent group which is substituted on to the aromatic moiety of the polystyrene or other polymer by electrophilic substitution. By choosing the substituent group to further include a leaving group, further substitution of the primary substituent can be effected normally by nucleophilic substitution reaction. In this way, biologically important molecules can be attached to a polystyrene or other aromatic containing polymer without effecting certain properties of the molded article such as its optical or spectroscopic clarity.
A method for producing an article formed from polystryene and functionalized on its surface by substitution with an electrophilic reagent followed by reaction with an additional reagent, said method comprising: reacting said surface with a reaction mixture comprising said electrophilic reagent in tetramethylene sulfone solvent under conditions and for a time sufficient for said electrophilic reagent to react with said aromatic monomer on the surface of said article to covalently bond substituent groups to said surface to provide a first substituted article; reacting said first substituted article with a second reaction mixture comprising a nucleophilic reagent in tetramethylene sulfone, dimethyl sulfoxide, water or combination thereof under conditions and for a time sufficient for said nucleophilic reagent to react with said substituent; and isolating said article from said second reaction mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for producing an article formed from polystryene and functionalized on its surface by substitution with an electrophilic reagent followed by reaction with an additional reagent, said method comprising: reacting said surface with a reaction mixture comprising said electrophilic reagent in tetramethylene sulfone solvent under conditions and for a time sufficient for said electrophilic reagent to react with said aromatic monomer on the surface of said article to covalently bond substituent groups to said surface to provide a first substituted article; reacting said first substituted article with a second reaction mixture comprising a nucleophilic reagent in tetramethylene sulfone, dimethyl sulfoxide, water or combination thereof under conditions and for a time sufficient for said nucleophilic reagent to react with said substituent; and isolating said article from said second reaction mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said nucleophile is water, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, an alcohol, an amine, a hydrazine, a mercaptan, a phenol, lipid, or combination thereof.