Issue 21, 2014

Synthesis of amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer bearing PIB and perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether-containing segments via sequential living carbocationic polymerization and ATRP

Abstract

A series of amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers containing polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly(p-(2-(4-biphenyl)perfluorocyclobutoxy)phenyl methacrylate) (PBPFCBPMA) segments was synthesized via sequential living carbocationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene was initially performed at −78 °C in n-hexane–CH3Cl followed by end-capping with 1,3-butadiene to provide a well-defined diallyl-Cl-terminated PIB with a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.26). The PIB functionalized at both ends was further transformed into Br-PIB-Br, an ATRP macroinitiator bearing one ATRP initiating group at each end. The target triblock copolymers of PBPFCBPMA-b-PIB-b-PBPFCBPMA with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.42) were obtained via ATRP of BPFCBPMA at 70 °C in tetrahydrofuran initiated by Br-PIB-Br. The self-assembly behavior of these triblock copolymers in n-hexane, acetone, and 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that large spherical compound micelles with PIB blocks as coronas were formed in n-hexane, whereas large compound micelles with fluorine-containing PBPFCBPMA blocks as coronas were formed in acetone and 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer bearing PIB and perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether-containing segments via sequential living carbocationic polymerization and ATRP

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Jun 2014
Accepted
14 Jul 2014
First published
15 Jul 2014

Polym. Chem., 2014,5, 6334-6343

Synthesis of amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer bearing PIB and perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether-containing segments via sequential living carbocationic polymerization and ATRP

W. Yao, Y. Li, C. Feng, G. Lu and X. Huang, Polym. Chem., 2014, 5, 6334 DOI: 10.1039/C4PY00851K

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