SYNTHESIS OF NEW, FUNCTIONALIZED POLY(BUTYL VINYL ETHER) OLIGOMERS AND NOVEL COPOLYMERS CONTAINING THESE MATERIALS

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of new, functionalized poly(alkyl vinyl ether) oligomers, and block copolymers containing poly(alkyl vinyl ether) and poly(methyl methacrylate). Using the HI/ZnI2 initiating system in nonpolar solvents (hexane, toluene) at -20-degrees-C, both monofunctional and difunctional poly(alkyl vinyl ether) oligomers of predicted molecular weights precisely terminated with aldehyde, primary hydroxyl and ester endgroups have been prepared. Novel diblock copolymers comprised of poly(methyl methacrylate and poly(butyl vinyl ether) have also been synthesized using a combination of living cationic and living group transfer polymerization.