DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restriction
Applicant’s election, without traverse, of Group I (claims 1-17 and 21) in the reply filed on Feb. 8, 2026, to the restriction requirement dated Dec. 9, 2025, is hereby acknowledged. The election of the species aryl monovinyl monomer for the mono-ethylenically unsaturated aryl monomer; aryl polyvinyl monomer for the poly-ethylenically aryl monomer; and CPDTC for the reversible-addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, are also acknowledged.
Accordingly, claims 1-17 and 21 have been examined in the instant Office action whereas claims 43 and 45 have been withdrawn from consideration as drawn to a non-elected invention but remain pending in the present application.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3, 5-11, 13-17 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1) as anticipated by Barlow ["Porous, functional, poly(styrene-co-divinyIbenzene) monoliths by RAFT polymerization", Kristine J Barlow et al., Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 5, pages 722-732, published Sept. 2, 2013]. This document was cited in the prior restriction requirement.
Barlow discloses a method for the preparation of porous functional poly(styrene- co-divinylbenzene) monoliths by use of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, wherein, for example, styrene-divinylbenzene copolymerization in the presence of 2-cyano-2-propyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate (CPDTC), provides control over polymerization kinetics, monolith morphology and surface functionality, wherein the time to onset of rapid polymerization (gelation) and the monolith morphology depend strongly on the RAFT agent concentration and wherein RAFT-synthesized monoliths show a modified morphology with smaller pores and polymer globules when compared to non-RAFT monoliths but retain good flow properties, wherein the monoliths have potential applications in chromatography and flow chemistry (abstract).
Barlow therefore discloses a method for producing a porous copolymer monolith substrate for use in flow through liquid chromatography applications, the method comprising: forming a reaction composition comprising at least one monoethylenically unsaturated aryl monomer (styrene), at least one polyethylenically unsaturated aryl monomer (divinylbenzene), a RAFT agent (2-cyano-2-propyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate (CPDTC)), at least one liquid porogen (e.g., dodecanol), and a radical initiator (azobisisobutyronitrile; AIBN); introducing the reaction composition to a mold (column) having a shape and dimensions suitable for forming a liquid chromatography substrate; co-polymerizing the mixture in the mold (NMR tubes and columns) under conditions (60°C for 21 h) to form a solid copolymer network that is phase separated from the reaction composition and/or any liquid components; separating the solid copolymer network from the reaction composition and/or any liquid components to provide the porous copolymer monolith substrate with various BET surface areas (1.13, 1.87, 32.4 or 90 m²/g) (see page 725, column 1, para 4-page 730, column 2, first paragraph; Schemes 1-2; Figures 1-6).
Barlow discloses the functionalizing porous copolymer monoliths with various functional groups (surface-grafting) that are suitable for covalently attaching the monoliths on any surface of column materials/walls (see page 727, column 2, para 3-page 728, column 2, para 3; page 730, column 1, last para-column 2, first paragraph).
Thus, the instant claims are anticipated by Barlow.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 and 12 are objected to as dependent upon rejected base claim 1 but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Barlow does not teach or suggest the RAFT agent as 2-[[(butylsulfanyl)-carbonothioyl]sulfanyl] propanoic acid (PABTC), or 4-cyano-4-[(dodecylsulfanyl-thiocarbonyl)sulfanyl]-pentanoic acid (CDSTS), as recited in present dependent claim 4. Nor does Barlow suggest the porogenic solvent as toluene, THF or dioxane, in accordance with present dependent claim 12
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN J FIGUEROA whose telephone number is (571)272-8916. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30 am -6:00 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, JOSEPH DEL SOLE can be reached on 571-272-1130. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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/JOHN J FIGUEROA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
May 30, 2026
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