Graft Copolymers via ROMP and Diels-Alder Click Reaction Strategy

Anthracene functionalized oxanorbornene monomer and oxanorbornenyl polystyrene (PS) with omega anthracene end functionalized macromonomer were first polymerized via ring opening metathesis polymerization using the first generation Grubbs catalyst in dichloromethane at room temperature and then clicked with maleimide end functionalized polymers poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) MI poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) MI and poly(tert butyl acrylate) (PtBA) MI in a Diels-Alder reaction in toluene at 120 degrees C to create corresponding graft copolymers poly(oxanorbornene) g PEG poly(oxanorbor nene) g PMMA and graft block copolymers poly(oxanorbor nene) g (PS b-PEG) poly(oxanorbornene) g (PS b-PMMA) and poly(oxanorbornene) g (PS b-PtBA) respectively Diels-Alder click reaction efficiency for graft copolymerization was moni tored by UV-vis spectroscopy The dn/dc values of graft copolymers and graft block copolymers were experimentally obtained using a triple detection gel permeation chromatogra phy and subsequently introduced to the software so as to give molecular weights intrinsic viscosity ([eta]) and hydrodynamic radius (R-h) values (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals Inc J Polym Sci Part A Polym Chem 48 5982-5991 2010