Double-bond-containing polyallene-based triblock copolymers via phenoxyallene and (meth)acrylate

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) and free radical polymerization are key techniques for synthesizing block copolymers.
• Developing novel initiators is crucial for precise control over polymer architecture and functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel ABA triblock copolymers with a central poly(phenoxyallene) (PPOA) block and terminal poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) blocks.
• To incorporate double bonds into the triblock copolymers for potential crosslinking or further functionalization.
• To evaluate the stability of the synthesized double-bond-containing triblock copolymers.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a bifunctional initiator with both azo and halogen-containing ATRP initiating groups.
• Preparation of a PPOA-based macroinitiator via free radical polymerization initiated by the bifunctional initiator.
• Sequential synthesis of PMMA-b-PPOA-b-PMMA and PBA-b-PPOA-b-PBA triblock copolymers using ATRP and a site transformation strategy.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized ABA triblock copolymers containing double-bond-functionalized PPOA segments.
• Demonstrated the stability of these novel triblock copolymers under UV irradiation and free radical environments.
• The PPOA-based macroinitiator facilitated the controlled synthesis of block copolymers.

Conclusions:

• A new synthetic route for double-bond-containing ABA triblock copolymers was established.
• The synthesized copolymers possess inherent stability, making them suitable for various applications.
• The developed bifunctional initiator and macroinitiator strategy offer precise control over block copolymer synthesis.