Synthesis and characterization of triblock copolymer by combining enzymatic condensation polymerization and ATRP

The polyester poly(1,10-decanediol/1, 10-sebacate) (PSD) was synthesized by means of Novozyme 435 catalyzed condensation polymerization of 1,10-decanediol and 1,10-sebacic acid. Both hydroxyl chain ends of the resulting PSD were modified by esterification with alpha-bromopropionyl bromide to obtain difunctional macroinitiator, which was subsequently used in the ATRP of St using CuCl/2, 2'-bipyridine (bpy) as the catalyst system to afford the triblock copolymer, polystyrene-block-poly(1,10-decanediol/1,10-sebacate)-block-polystyrene (PSt-b-PSD-b-PSt). Molecular weight distribution and structure of the resulting triblock copolymer was confirmed by Waters 410 Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and measurements of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis.