Synthesis and characterization of a diblock copolymer of methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate by successive photo-induced charge transfer polymerization using ethanolamine as the parent compound

Communication: A diblock copolymer consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) with hydroxyl group at one end is pre pared by successive charge transfer polymerization (CTP) under UV irradiati on at room temperature using ethanolamine and benzophenone as a binary init iation system. The diblock copolymer PMMA-b-PVAc could be selectively hydro lyzed to the block copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl al cohol) (PVA) using sodium ethoxide as the catalyst. Both copolymers, PMMA-b -PVAc and PMMA-b-PVA, are characterized in detail by means of FTIR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and GPC. The effect of the solvent on CTP and the kinetic s of CTP are discussed. GPC traces if PMMA prepolymer (a) and PMMA-b-PVA (b). [GRAPHICS]