Polymerization of cyclic acetals. II. Synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers

Abstract

SynopsisThe sequential copolymerization of 1,3,6-trioxacyclooctane (TOC) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) ( B ) with various vinyl monomers ( A ) was investigated. Under appropriate conditions amphiphilic block copolymers of the type AB and ABA were formed. The reaction mixtures and the isolated polymers were analyzed by GPC (double detection-IR and UV at 254 nm), IR, 'H-, and I3C-NMR spectroscopy. Block copolymers with chosen molecular weights and low polydispersity could be obtained only by sequential copolymerization of p-methoxystyrene on "living" TOC. In the polymerization of DOL with a-methylstyrene and i-butyl vinyl ether (IBVE) transfer reactions take place to a larger degree.( IBVE) exhibit different reactivities in cationic polymerization. Ph3C+PF; (As F;), ( CF3S02)20 and BF3.0Et2 were used as catalysts.