Synthesis of triblock copolymers containing polyisoprene segments using iniferter technique

ABA triblock copolymers containing polyisoprene segments, such as polyisoprene-b-polystyrene-b-polyisoprene (PIP-b-PSt-b-PIP)and polyisoprene-b-poly( methyl methacrylate)-b-polyisoprene (PIP-b-PMMA-bPIP),were prepared with macro-iniferter technique. The macro-iniferters (PSt-CCDCM and PMMA-CCDCM) bearing alpha- and omega -N, N-diethyldithiocarbamyl (DC) groups were synthesized by bulk polymerization of St and MMA with diethyl 2,3-dicyano-2,3-di(p-N, N-diethyldithiocarbamylmethyl)-phenylsuccinate (DDDCS) as a thermal iniferter. The block copolymerization of IP with PSt-CCDCM or, PMMA-CCDCM was carried out under UV light irradiation. The block copolymers were characterized by H-1-NMR, GPC and DSC analyses, and the polymerization proceeded as a living polymerization process.