New Strategy Targeting Well-Defined Polymethylene-block-Polystyrene Copolymers: The Combination of Living Polymerization of Ylides and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

Well-defined polymethylene-block-polystyrene (PM-b-PS) diblock copolymers were synthesized via a combination of living polymerization of ylides and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. A series of hydroxyl-terminated polymethylenes (PM-OHs) with different molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were prepared using living polymerization of ylides following efficient oxidation in a quantitive functionality. Then, the macroinitiators (PM-MIs (M n = 1900-15 000; PDI= 1.12-1.23)) transformed from PM-OHs in ≈ 100% conversion initiated ATRPs of styrene to construct PM-b-PS copolymers. The GPC traces indicated the successful extension of PS segment (M n of PM-b-PS = 5 000-41800; PDI = 1.08-1.23). Such copolymers were characterized by 1 H NMR and DSC.