Angewandte Chemie · 2020 · 15 citations · 49 references
Natural SciencesChemistryMaterials ScienceNanomaterialsPolymer ChemistryPolymer MaterialsPolymer StructurePolymer SynthesisPolymeric NanomaterialsPolymerization ChemistryPolymerization ProcessesCopolymerization StrategiesEthylene PolymerizationMild Reaction ConditionsPolyethylenePolymerization MechanismsPolymerization-induced Self-assemblyReversible Addition-fragmentation Chain Transfer PolymerizationSelf-assembling Polymers
Abstract Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with dithiocarbamate chain ends (PEO–SC(=S)−N(CH 3 )Ph and PEO–SC(=S)−NPh 2 , named PEO‐1 and PEO‐2 , respectively) were used as macromolecular chain‐transfer agents (macro‐CTAs) to mediate the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of ethylene in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) under relatively mild conditions (80 °C, 80 bar). While only a slow consumption of PEO‐1 was observed, the rapid consumption of PEO‐2 led to a clean chain extension and the formation of a polyethylene (PE) segment. Upon polymerization, the resulting block copolymers PEO‐b‐PE self‐assembled into nanometric objects according to a polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA).
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