“Grafting-from” synthesis of polyvinyl ether bottlebrush polymers via a combination of cationic polymerization and ATRP

Abstract

In this paper, we report a new method for preparing bottlebrush polymers (BBPs) with a polyvinyl ether (PVE) backbone using a combination of cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A Br-functionalized vinyl ether monomer, 2-vinyloxyethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (VEBB), was synthesized for the “grafting-from” synthesis of BBPs, and it can readily undergo cationic polymerization in the presence of an organic Brønsted acid and allow for subsequent ATRP of different monomers to introduce side chains. Accordingly, a series of bottlebrush polymers with a well-defined backbone and different side chains can be prepared via this combination of cationic polymerization and ATRP technology. The thermal transition of PVE-based bottlebrush polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surface morphologies and aggregation behaviours of these nanoscopic single molecules were studied by tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) on mica.