Synthesis of polytetrahydrofuran with alkoxyamine end-groups and its use in block copolymerization with styrene

Abstract

Alkoxyamine-terminated polytetrahydrofurans were prepared by terminating the mono- and bi-functional living polymerization of tetrahydrofuran with sodium alkoxyamine. The resulting polymers could initiate the radical polymerization of styrene in accordance with a controlled mechanism to afford block copolymers. The transformation from living cationic to controlled free radical polymerization has been achieved.