Synthesis of star‐shaped poly(ethylene oxide)

Abstract

Three different methods to synthesize star‐shaped poly(ethylene oxide) are discussed in the present article. In all three cases, the branches are grown from a plurifunctional initiator. It is established that even though the early stages of the polymerization occur in heterogeneous phase, the consequences on the polymers formed are of minor importance. The most significant method is a core‐first process, involving multifunctional poly‐DVB cores as the initiating species, made anionically in dilute solution. Although strong association phenomena are occurring during the growth of the branches, star‐shaped poly(ethylene oxide)s with a high number of functionalized branches are obtained. The polymers arising from all three methods were characterized accurately.