Synthesis of ABC miktoarm star copolymers via organocatalyzed living radical polymerization

• Main Authors: Ge, Yicen, Chen, Chen, Sim, Xuan Ming, Zheng, Jie, Goto, Atsushi
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Science::Chemistry; Miktoarm Star Copolymers; Living Radical Polymerization
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/137971
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

ABC-type miktoarm star copolymers are synthesized using a single living radical polymerization (organocatalyzed living radical polymerization) via a "combinatorial" approach. The arm A is poly(butyl acrylate), the arm B is poly(methyl methacrylate), and the arm C encompasses hydrophobic and hydrophilic polyacrylates. A poly(butyl acrylate) with a vinyl chain end (macromonomer) is synthesized. A poly(methyl methacrylate) is subsequently connected to the reactive vinyl group to generate diblock copolymer. From the junction of the diblock copolymer, polymer C grew to yield star copolymers. An amphiphilic star copolymer is also synthesized, and its self-assembly structure is studied in an aqueous solution.