Synthesis of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) graft copolymer

Abstract

Abstract Poly(vinyl acetate)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) graft copolymer ( 4a ), with a controlled poly(dimethylsiloxane) graft chain length, was synthesized by radical copolymerization of vinyl acetate with poly(dimethylsiloxane) ( 3 ) having a dimethylvinylsilyl end group. 3 was prepared by living anionic polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane ( 1 ) with butyllithium and subsequent termination with chlorodimethylvinylsilane ( 2 ). Poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) graft copolymer ( 4b ) was then synthesized by selective saponification of the poly(vinyl acetate) segments in the graft copolymer 4a with K 2 CO 3 in methanol.