Synthesis and characterization of poly(aryl ether–sulfone) and poly(tetrahydrofuran)(A–B)N block copolymers

Abstract

The preparation of (A–B)_N block copolymers comprising of poly(aryl ether–sulfone)(PSF) and poly(tetrahydrofuran)(PTHF) segments have been described. Pyridine–terminated PSF oligomers of controlled molecular weights were synthesized via, nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. PTHF oligomers prepared by living cationic ring-opening polymerization processes using trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride as the initiator, were terminated with the PSF oligomers. The resulting block copolymers with quaternary nitrogen linkages along the backbone were characterized by a variety of techniques including spectroscopy, and thermal and chromatographic analysis.