Controlled radical polymerization methodologies provide both a means to prepare targeted molecular polymers with narrow dispersity as well as specifically designed end-groups as a consequence of the initiator, or chain-transfer agent, employed for the synthesis. Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) of styrene, followed by the nucleophilic substitution of the benzyl bromide end-group with an azide anion gave PS-N3 samples. A novel alkyne functionalized xanthate has been used in the Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization of vinyl acetate to prepare poly(vinyl acetate) end functionalized with an alkyne, PVAc-CCH. Azide alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition reactions were used to efficiently couple PS-N3 with PVAc-CCH. The 1,2,3-triazole junction between the PS and the PVAc segments was found to be robust to hydrolysis under the alkaline conditions required to effect the conversion of PS-b-PVAc to the corresponding amphiphilic polystyrene-b-poly(vinyl alchohol). The copolymers PS-b-PVAc and PS-b-PVOH form well -ordered bulk and thin film morphologies. The preparative and characterization aspects of these copolymers will be discussed. 

Amphiphilic block copolymers prepared using two controlled radical polymerization methodologies and click coupling

248th National Meeting (2014)

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