STARSHAPED BLOCK COPOLYMERS - 1. SYNTHESIS OF NEW A(B)2 STARSHAPED BLOCK COPOLYMERS BASED ON VINYL OR DIENE HYDROCARBONS (A) AND OXIRANE (B).

In the reported experiments, naphthalene-terminated polyvinyl aromatics and polyisoprene were obtained successfully. These functional polymers were metalated by potassium in THF at 25 degree C. The formation of a stable dinegative ion is observed unless the naphthalene is directly attached to the end of the polyvinyl aromatics, in which case a few isoprene units can be advantageously inserted between the naphthalene end group and the polyvinyl aromatics. The polymeric and stable dinegative ion polymerizes oxirane by both anionic sites and forms three-branched starshaped block copolymers.