Straightforward Synthesis of Symmetrical Multiblock Copolymers by Simultaneous Block Extension and Radical Coupling Reactions

Abstract

In situ combination of a polymerization step with a coupling reaction is demonstrated to accelerate the synthesis protocols for symmetrical multiblock copolymers. Predici simulations and experiments prove on the example of cobalt-mediated radical polymerization and coupling (CMRP/C) reactions that such synthesis strategy can be very effective and easy to conduct. Treatment of a cobalt-terminated poly(acrylonitrile) precursor with a mixture of acrylate and isoprene led to the rapid polymerization of the acrylate before isoprene-assisted radical coupling of the macroradical chains forming a well-defined poly(acrylonitrile)-b-poly(acrylate)-b-poly(acrylonitrile) triblock. The degree of polymerization of the central block, resulting from the balance between propagation and coupling, could be tuned by adjusting the relative concentration and varying the structure of the acrylate and diene. The same convergent strategy also permits the synthesis of ABCBA-type pentablock copolymer starting from a cobalt-functional diblock. Simultaneous radical polymerization and coupling is thus a powerful macromolecular engineering approach for the straightforward design of symmetrical multiblock copolymers.