Question

Propose a method for the synthesis of a block copolymer of Polystyrene-b-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) by living anionic polymerization (LAP), followed by ATRP (transformation of LAP to ATRP). Write down the reaction scheme.

Answer 1

methods for the synthesis of novel block copolymers consisting of a non-polar segment and a hydrogen bonding segment were developed using a combination of living polymerization techniques. A series of well defined block copolymers was synthesized consisting of polybutadiene-block-poly(t-butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene), polybutadiene-block-poly(p-acetoxystyrene) and polybutadiene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). The block copolymers containing t-butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene and p-acetoxystyrene may be deprotected to yield polybutadiene-block-poly(4-hydroxystyrene). Specifically, non-polar/hydrogen bonding (NP/HB) block copolymers were synthesized via two routes. The first consisted of anionic polymerization. The second involved a mechanistic transformation technique comprised of anionic and atom transfer radical polymerization techniques. The mechanistic transformation route was determined to be the superior method with regard to the molecular weight of the polymers produced, the abundance of compatible monomers, and the facile nature of the reaction technique