One-pot self-coupling concurrent living polymerizations of inimers to synthesize hyperbranched-linking-hyperbranched polymer cylinders via cyclic trithiocarbonate

In this paper, we present a convenient one-pot self-coupling concurrent living polymerization strategy for synthesizing one-dimensional hyperbranched-linking-hyperbranched cylindrical macromolecules. A RAFT agent served as a “hyper-linker” to link hyperbranched blocks. The obtained polymers showed high regularity of long-range order evidenced by small angle X-ray diffraction patterns and the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase. The formation mechanism of the hyperbranched-linking-hyperbranched structures and the role of the RAFT agents were investigated.