[en] Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) chains of a low polydispersity (Mw/Mn similar to 1.1-1.2) have been prepared by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). They have been end-capped by an activated bromide by addition of an alpha-bromoester or an alpha-bromoketone containing nitroxide and converted into effective macroinitiators for the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene (Sty), ethyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate. Because each block is formed by a controlled process, well-defined PVAc containing diblock copolymers are easily prepared. The PVAc-b-PS copolymers synthesized from alpha-bromoketone end-capped PVAc can be converted into well-defined poly(vinyl alcohol)-b-polystyrene amphiphiles by methanolysis of the poly(vinyl acetate) block. Self-association of an amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol)(3500)-b-polystyrene(16 600) in a (4/1) water/tetrahydrofuran mixture results in the formation of vesicles as observed by transmission electron microscopy.
Research center :
Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Disciplines :
Chemistry Materials science & engineering
Author, co-author :
Debuigne, Antoine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Caille, Jean-Raphaël; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Willet, Nicolas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Jérôme, Robert ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Language :
English
Title :
Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol) containing block copolymers by combination of cobalt-mediated radical polymerization and ATRP
Publication date :
15 November 2005
Journal title :
Macromolecules
ISSN :
0024-9297
eISSN :
1520-5835
Publisher :
Amer Chemical Soc, Washington, United States - Washington