Method for producing polymer particles, polymer particles, filler for chromatography column, and chromatography column

1. A method for producing polymer particles, the method comprising:

dispersing, in an aqueous medium, a monomer composition comprising a multifunctional monomer having formula (1):

wherein:

R 1 is an alkylene group having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and

R 2 and R 3 are each an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or

R 2 and R 3 optionally together form a heterocycle with an adjacent nitrogen atom and R 1 ,

with the proviso that a total number of carbon atoms of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is 5 or more; and

normal phase suspension polymerizing the dispersed monomer composition.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the monomer composition further comprises an organic solvent dissolving the multifunctional monomer.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein a solubility parameter of the organic solvent is 17 (MPa) 1/2 or more.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein an absolute value of a difference between a solubility parameter of the multifunctional monomer and the solubility′ parameter of the organic solvent is 5.8 (MPa) 1/2 or less.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the organic solvent is a mixed solution of an organic solvent having a solubility parameter of 19 (MPa) 1/2 or more and an organic solvent having a solubility parameter of less than 19 (MPa) 1/2 .

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the monomer composition further comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acrylamide-based monomer, a styrene-based monomer, an N-vinylamide-based monomer, a vinyl ketone-based monomer, an acrylonitrile-based monomer, and an epoxy group-containing unsaturated monomer.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the monomer composition comprises a (meth)acrylamide-based monomer of formula (3):

wherein:

R 4 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and

R 5 and R 6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

8. Polymer particles produced by the method according to claim 1 .

9. Polymer particles comprising a structure of formula (2):

wherein:

R 1 is an alkylene group having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and

R 2 and R 3 are each an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or

R 2 and R 3 optionally together form a heterocycle with an adjacent nitrogen atom and R 1 ,

with the proviso that a total number of carbon atoms of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is 5 or more.

10. The polymer particles according to claim 9 , further comprising a structural unit derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acrylamide-based monomer, a styrene-based monomer, an N-vinylamide-based monomer, a vinyl ketone-based monomer, an acrylonitrile-based monomer, and an epoxy group-containing unsaturated monomer.

11. The polymer particles according to claim 10 , comprising a structural unit derived from a (meth)acrylamide-based monomer of formula (3):

wherein:

R 4 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and

R 5 and R 6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

12. A packing material comprising the polymer particles according to claim 8 as a support, wherein the packing material is suitable for a chromatography column.

13. A packing material comprising the polymer particles according to claim 8 and a ligand immobilized thereon, wherein the packing material is suitable for affinity chromatography.

14. The packing material according to claim 13 , wherein the ligand is an immunoglobulin-binding protein.

15. A chromatography column packed with the packing material according to claim 12 .