Linking reactions of living polymers with bromomethylbenzene derivatives: Synthesis and characterization of star homopolymers and graft copolymers with polyelectrolyte branches

Anionic polymerization techniques utilizing 1,2,4,5-tetra(bromomethyl)benze ne as the linking agent were employed for the synthesis of four-arm star po lymers with poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBuMA), poly(methyl methacrylat e), poly(tert-butylacrylate) (PtBuA), or poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) branc hes. This work was extended through the "grafting onto" method, in combinat ion with anionic polymerization techniques, to synthesize graft copolymers consisting of polystyrene backbones and PtBuA, PtBuMA, or P2VP branches. Po stpolymerization reactions were performed to produce graft copolymers with polyelectrolyte branches. Crosslinking reactions were observed in some of t he graft materials several months after their preparation. (C) 1999 John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.