Synthesis of amphiphilic polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) diblock copolymers by iodide-mediated radical polymerization

Abstract

Amphiphilic polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) diblock copolymers were prepared by iodide-mediated radical polymerization. Firstly, free radical polymerization of styrene was carried out with AIBN as initiater and iodoform as chain-transfer agent, giving iodine atom-ended polystyrene with controlled molecular weights. Secondly, tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) was polymerization using above obtained polystyrenes as macro-chain-transfer agents and PS-b-PtBA. diblock copolymers with controlled molecular weights were obtained. Finally, amphiphilic PS-e-PAA diblock copolymers were prepared by hydrolysis of PS-b-PtBA under the acid condition. The formation of PS-b-PtBA and PS-b-PAA diblock copolymers was confirmed by the use of gel permeation chromatography and 1H NMR spectroscopy.