BLOCK-COPOLYMERS WITH BIPYRIDINE CONTAINING SEGMENTS - SYNTHESIS AND SELF-ORGANIZATION BY CU(I) COMPLEXATION

The synthesis and properties of segmented ABA triblock and (AB)(n) mul tiblock copolymer systems with 6,6'-disubstituted 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy ) building blocks B and poly(oxytetramethylene) soft segments A are de scribed. The access to the disubstituted bipyridines in large scale qu antities was achieved by modification of conventional synthetic routes . In the presence of copper(I) ions these polymers formed mononuclear [Cu(I)(bpy)(2)] complexes in solution through self-assembly. The compl exed copolymers were microphase separated systems in bulk with nano to mesoscopic superstructures consisting of copper-bpy complex aggregate s in a polyether matrix. The thermal, mechanical and elastomer propert ies of the block copolymers varied with composition.