Synthesis and characterization of epoxy-chain end(s) functional macromonomer of polystyrene and its use in photoinitiated cationic polymerization

A novel epoxy chain-end(s) functional polystyrene macromonomer (PSt-CHO) was prepared via free radical polymerization (FRP) of styrene (St) initiated by 4,4'-azobis(3-cyclohexenylmethyl-4-cyanopentanoate) (ACCP) azo initiator and epoxidation on workup with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid under inert atmosphere in methylene chloride at 0 degrees C. 4,4'-Azobis(4-cyanopentanoyl chloride) (ACPC) was obtained by the reaction of 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA) with phosphorus pentachloride in methylene chloride. The ACCP was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-cyclohexene-1-methanol with ACPC. The FRP of styrene with ACCP has yielded polystyrene with cyclohexene end(s) group (PSt-CH). Epoxidation of the PSt-CH was performed using 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to obtain epoxy chain-end(s) functional polystyrene macromonomer (PSt-CHO). This macromonomer was used as precursor in photoinitiated cationic polymerization for obtaining brush-type and graft copolymers. Photoinitiated cationic homopolymerization of the macromonomer in the presence of diphenyliodonium salt at lambda = 300 nm yielded brush-type polymers. Photoinitiated cationic copolymerization of the macromonomer with cyclohexene oxide (CHO) monomer and diphenyliodonium salt at lambda = 350 nm produced graft copolymers. The polymers synthesized were characterized by means of FTIR, (HNMR)-H-1 and gel permeation chromatography measurements. All the spectroscopic studies revealed that a macromonomer of polystyrene with cyclohexene oxide (CHO) functionality at the chain end(s) (PSt-CHO) and their brush-type and graft copolymers were obtained.