Synthesis of macromonomer using end functional polystyrene prepared from p-methoxybenzyl p-trimethyl-silylphenyl selenide as a photoiniferter

The end functional polystyrene having phenylseleno group at omega -chain en d was prepared from radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of p- methoxybenzyl p-trimethylsilylphenyl selenide as a photoiniferter. The phen ylseleno group at omega -chain end in polystyrene was eliminated by hydroge n peroxide. The resulting polystyrene was interconverted quantitatively to polystyrene having epoxy end group by the oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid. The macromonomer having a meth-acryloyl end group was synthesized fr om polystyrene containing epoxy end group with methacrylic acid in xylene a t 140 degreesC. Copolymerization of this macromonomer with methyl methacryl ate afforded effectively a graft copolymer composed of a poly-(methyl metha crylate) backbone and polystyrene branches.