My project consists of the synthesis and characterization of new catalysts for the controlled radical polymerization of vinyl acetate. Typically vinyl acetate is polymerized in a random fashion to produce well known products such as glues, pipes, paints, and coatings. By controlling the process we hope to make new materials with controlled properties.

 The main goal of my project is to create a catalyst based on vanadium supported by bis(imino)pyridine ligands which will be able to control the polymerization of these vinyl acetate species. This will produce a polymer with a very narrow and defined molecular weight and offer different physical properties for the plastic produced.

 I became aware of this project through my supervisor: Dr. Michael Shaver. I was especially interested in this work because it follows guidelines of “green chemistry”, which looks to reduce solvent waste in reactions and be atom-economical, resulting in a significant reduction in waste. I was also interested in developing new skills in synthetic chemistry including the handling of air-sensitive reagents and the use of more advanced instrumentation including gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

 Controlled poly-vinyl acetate has the potential to be used to create new, useful materials in an environmentally friendly fashion. Controlled PVA also has the potential to be hydrolyzed to poly-vinyl alcohol, which has various medical applications including potential applications in biomedical devices and drug delivery systems. 

 Synthetic chemistry is inherently exciting, as I get to make things that have never been made before. The most exciting reactions that I have done to date involve performing air sensitive reactions in either a glove box or using a Schlenk line.