Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilc block copolymer poly(methyl acrylic acid)-block-polytetrahydrofuran

Under the specially designated condition the polymerization of both tetrahydrofuran (THF) and tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) is a living one. The diblock copolymer, poly(tert-butyl methacrylate)-block-polytetrahydrofuran (PtBMA-b-PTHF), was successfully synthesized by meansof the coupling reaction of living cationic PTHF+, SbF6 with living anionic PtBMA-, Li+. LiCI, whichhas a beneficial effect on the molecular weight distribution (MWD) in the anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates, hinders the coupling reaction of living chains and cannot be used in the preparation of tBMA precursor. The hydrolysis of the aforementioned diblock copolymer under acid condition results in the amphiphilic diblock copolymer, i.e. poly(methyl acrylic acid)-block-polytetra-hydrofuran (PMAA-b-PTHF). The diblock copolymers were characterized with GPC and IR.