Towards a one-pot synthesis of a polystyrene-PMMA block copolymer via atom-transfer radical polymerization

Abstract

The solution atom-transfer radical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in butyl acetate at 110°C in the presence of Cu(II) bromide and 2,2′ -bipyride was investigated. Poly-styrene was polymerized by atom-transfer radical polymerization using benzyl bromide as initiator and MMA was then added to the system. Block copolymers were formed when MMA was added at ≤90% styrene conversion. Molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn) of the block copolymers were ≤1.5. The possibility of end-capping the polystyrene precursor as a means of improving its initiating efficiency towards MMA was also investigated but did not improve the system. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.