SYNTHESIS OF STAR-BRANCHED OLIGOMERS BY REACTION OF OLIGOBUTADIENYLLITHIUM WITH DIESTERS AND EPOXIDIZED SOYBEAN OIL

Anionic polymerization can produce branches with low molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distributions. Post polymerization linking involving the still active chain ends can then be done to produce bra nched oligomers with a predetermined number of arms. These species are then excellent model compounds for testing high molecular weight bran ches. Here we chose the reaction of oligobutadienyllithium with ethyl acetate, dimethyl adipate, diethyl adipate, dimethyl phthalate and epo xidized soyabean oil. For the last linking agent, we compared the resu lt obtained with a high molecular weight poly(styryl-b-butadienyl)lith ium.