Multiarm star block copolymers via Diels‐Alder click reaction

Abstract

Abstract Two types of multiarm star block copolymers: (polystyrene) m ‐poly(divinylbenzene)‐poly(methyl methacrylate) n , (PS) m ‐polyDVB‐(PMMA) n and (polystyrene) m ‐poly(divinylbenzene)‐poly( tert ‐butyl acrylate) k , (PS) m ‐polyDVB‐(P t BA) k were successfully prepared via a combination of cross‐linking and Diels–Alder click reactions based on “arm‐first” methodology. For this purpose, multiarm star polymer with anthracene functionality as reactive periphery groups was prepared by a cross‐linking reaction of divinyl benzene using α‐anthracene end functionalized polystyrene (PS‐Anth) as a macroinitiator. Thus, obtained multiarm star polymer was then reacted with furan protected maleimide‐end functionalized polymers: PMMA‐MI or P t BA‐MI at reflux temperature of toluene for 48 h resulting in the corresponding multiarm star block copolymers via Diels–Alder click reaction. The multiarm star and multiarm star block copolymers were characterized by using 1 H NMR, SEC, Viscotek triple detection SEC (TD‐SEC) and UV. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 178–187, 2009