Ethyl oxide effect on the polymerization of tert-butylacrilate and synthesis of polyether-polyester type block-copolymers

Tert-butylacrylate was polymerized by potassium tert-butoxide in THF and to luene in the presence of 10% (by volume) of ethylene oxide. Polymers with g ood yields and reasonably narrow MWD (M-w/M(n)similar to2) were obtained. M icrotacticity of the polymers is strongly solvent-dependent, the content of isotactic triads being similar to 70% in toluene and similar to 40% in THF . Upon using ethylene oxide as part of the solvent, diblock-copolymers of pol yethylene oxide with poly-tert-butylacrylate with controlled molecular weig ht characteristics of the polyethylene oxide block were synthesized. The po ssibility of diethylvinylphosphonate polymerization on the living chain end s of poly-tert-butylacrylate was checked. At the 10% content of ethylene ox ide in the reaction medium, diblock-copolymers of poly-tert-butylacrylate a nd polydiethylvinylphosphonate were obtained and theIR compositions were de termined. Triblock-copolymers polyethylene oxide-poly-tert-butylacrylate-polydiethylv inylphosphonate with low polymerization degree of the second and the third blocks were prepared.