SYNTHESIS OF BLOCK COPOLYMERS VIA ANION-TO-RADICAL TRANSFORMATION

Synthesis of (methyl methacrylate)-styrene block copolymers was carried out using anion-to-radical transformation. For this purpose, living polystyryl anion, prepared by using a new anionic difunctional initiator, 1,5-di(2-(3,3-dimethyl butyl-1-lithio)naphthalene, was terminated by the addition of 4,4'-bromomethyl dibenzoyl peroxide. Polystyrene samples having peroxide terminal groups were then used as initiators in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Block copolymers were characterized by spectroscopic and fractional precipitation methods.