A New Synthesis Strategy on Styrene-Butadiene Di-Block Copolymer Containing High cis-1,4 Unit Via Transfer of Anionic to Coordination Polymerization
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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Jie Liu1,2, Xin Min3, Xiuzhong Zhu4
1Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China. liujie509_1982@126.com.
Abstract:
A novel synthesis strategy on styrene-butadiene di-block copolymer (PS-b-PB) with high cis-1,4 unit content was developed, based on a transfer technique from anionic to coordination polymerization. Firstly, the styrene monomer was initiated by n-butyllithium (Li) utilizing anionic polymerization at 50 °C, which resulted in a macromolecular alkylating initiator (PSLi). Secondly, PSLi was aged with nickel naphthenate (Ni) and boron trifluoride etherate (B) for obtaining a complex catalyst system (Ni/PSLi/B). Then, Ni/PSLi/B was applied to initiate the butadiene (Bd) polymerization. Following this new strategy, a series of PS-b-PBs were successfully synthesized. The experimental results indicated that under the molar ratio combination of [Li]/[Ni] = 5 and [B]/[Li] = 1, styrene-butadiene di-block copolymers could be easily achieved with high cis-1,4 unit content (>97%) and controlled molecular weight as well as narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn < 1.5). Furthermore, the copolymer's block ratio could also be effectively controlled by controlling the two components' monomer feed ratio.
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