Graft copolymers from star-shaped and hyperbranched polystyrene macromonomers

Branched polystyrene macromonomers were synthesized by the slow addition of a stoichiometric amount of either 4-(chlorodimethylsilyl)styrene or vinylb enzyl chloride as a coupling agent to living polystyryllithium. Star-shaped macromonomers were produced by the addition of the coupling agent alone, a nd hyperbranched macromonomers resulted from the addition of the coupling a gent along with styrene monomer. Star and hyperbranched graft copolymers we re produced by the copolymerization of the macromonomers with styrene and m ethyl methacrylate. The copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chr omatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering, H-1 NMR spectr oscopy, and Soxhlet extraction to determine that the macromonomers were inc orporated in high yields into the copolymers. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, I nc.