PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALPHA-BENZYL-OMEGA-VINYLBENZYL POLYSTYRENE MACROMONOMER

alpha-Benzyl-omega-vinylbenzyl polystyrene macromonomers of different molecular weights were prepared by the living anionic polymerization o f styrene with n-BuLi/tetramethylethylenediamine/toluene ligand comple x as an initiator followed by termination with vinylbenzyl chloride. C haracterization of the end group of the macromonomer by H-1 NMR showed quantitative introduction of the alpha- and omega-end groups. Anionic polymerization of the macromonomer with s-BuLi provided poly(macromon omer)s of a narrow molecular weight distribution. The central backbone as well as the branch chain ends of the obtained poly(macromonomer)s have similar chemical structure to that of the constitutional repeatin g unit of the polystyrene chain and there is no unlike unit in the pol ymer structure. Thus, the macromonomer can provide useful model branch ed polystyrene of the regular structure.