A2B2 type miktoarm star copolymers via alkyne homocoupling reaction

Abstract

AbstractThe terminal alkyne homocoupling reaction (oxidative alkyne coupling) is presented here as a new route for the preparation of A2B2 type 4‐miktoarm star copolymer. The block copolymer with terminal alkyne at the junction point prepared by NMP‐ATRP and ROP‐NMP sequential routes is coupled via diyne formation to give (PS)2‐(PMMA)2 and (PCL)2‐(PS)2 4‐miktoarm star polymers, respectively, by using a combination of (PPh3)2PdCl2/PPh3/CuI in a solvent mixture of Et3N/CH3CN at room temperature for 72 h. The molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity ([η]), radius of gyration (Rg), and hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of A2B2 4‐miktoarm star copolymers were calculated using triple‐detection GPC as results of three detectors response. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6703–6711, 2008