Polymers, living anionic reaction

One of the earliest examples of this methodology involves the reaction of a polymeric anion (formed by living anionic polymerization) with molecular oxygen to form a polymeric hydroperoxide which can be decomposed either thermally or, preferably, in a redox reaction to initiate block polymer formation with a second monomer (Scheme 7.25). However, the usual complications associated with initiation by hydroperoxides apply (Section 3.3.2.5). 

The role of reactive centers is performed here by free radicals or ions whose reaction with double bonds in monomer molecules leads to the growth of a polymer chain. The time of its formation may be either essentially less than that of monomer consumption or comparable with it. The first case takes place in the processes of free-radical polymerization whereas the second one is peculiar to the processes of living anionic polymerization. The distinction between these two cases is the most greatly pronounced under copolymerization of two and more monomers when the change in their concentrations over the course of the synthesis induces chemical inhomogeneity of the products formed not only for size but for composition as well. 

Hyperbranched polymers have also been prepared via living anionic polymerization. The reaction of poly(4-methylstyrene)-fo-polystyrene lithium with a small amount of divinylbenzene, afforded a star-block copolymer with 4-methylstyrene units in the periphery [200]. The methyl groups were subsequently metalated with s-butyllithium/tetramethylethylenediamine. The produced anions initiated the polymerization of a-methylstyrene (Scheme 109). From the radius of gyration to hydrodynamic radius ratio (0.96-1.1) it was concluded that the second generation polymers behaved like soft spheres. 

An iterative approach involving coupling reactions of living anionic polymers followed by functionalization, leads to three generation homo- and block copolymers. [208]. The reactions used are shown in Scheme 115. 

The core first method starts from multifunctional initiators and simultaneously grows all the polymer arms from the central core. The method is not useful in the preparation of model star polymers by anionic polymerization. This is due to the difficulties in preparing pure multifunctional organometallic compounds and because of their limited solubility. Nevertheless, considerable effort has been expended in the preparation of controlled divinyl- and diisopropenylbenzene living cores for anionic initiation. The core first method has recently been used successfully in both cationic and living radical polymerization reactions. Also, multiple initiation sites can be easily created along linear and branched polymers, where site isolation avoids many problems. 

Based on this approach Schouten et al. [254] attached a silane-functionalized styrene derivative (4-trichlorosilylstyrene) on colloidal silica as well as on flat glass substrates and silicon wafers and added a five-fold excess BuLi to create the active surface sites for LASIP in toluene as the solvent. With THF as the reaction medium, the BuLi was found to react not only with the vinyl groups of the styrene derivative but also with the siloxane groups of the substrate. It was found that even under optimized reaction conditions, LASIP from silica and especially from flat surfaces could not be performed in a reproducible manner. Free silanol groups at the surface as well as the ever-present impurities adsorbed on silica, impaired the anionic polymerization. However, living anionic polymerization behavior was found and the polymer load increased linearly with the polymerization time. Polystyrene homopolymer brushes as well as block copolymers of poly(styrene-f)lock-MMA) and poly(styrene-block-isoprene) could be prepared. 

The deliberate introduction of multifunctional branching into anionically prepared polydiene and poly (diene-co-styrene) polymers produces materials with unique morphological and viscoelastic properties (1-3). Work has included synthesis of symmetric star polymers produced by reaction of living polyanionic "arms" with multi-functional chlorosilane (4-9),... 

Telechelic polymers, containing one or more end groups with the capacity to react with other molecules, are useful for synthesizing block and other copolymers [Fontanille, 1989 Hsieh and Quirk, 1996 Nuyken and Pask, 1989 Pantazis et al., 2003 Patil et al., 1998 Quirk et al., 1989, 1996 Rempp et al., 1988]. Living anionic polymers can be terminated with a variety of electrophilic reagents to yield telechelic polymers. For example, reaction with carbon dioxide, ethylene oxide, and allyl bromide yield polymers terminated with carboxyl, hydroxyl, and allyl groups, respectively. Functionalization with hydroxyl or carboxyl groups can also be achieved by reaction with a lactone or anhydride, respectively. Polymers with amine end... 

Living anionic polymers and block copolymers can be linked by coupling reactions. A living AB block copolymer can be linked by 1,6-dibromohexane to yield an ABA triblock copolymer... 

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