One-pot tandem synthesis of a core-shell brush copolymer from small molecule reactants by ring-opening metathesis and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (co)polymerizations

One-pot synthesis of a core-shell brush copolymer from small molecule reactants by tandem Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization was analyzed. RAFT copolymerization was conducted by additions of Strontium and 50% volume of azobis isobutyronitril (AIBN) to the reaction flask and degassing and heating the reaction mixture at 50°C. The NMR spectroscopy analysis results show that the comonomers are consumed steadily with the increase of RAFT polymerization time. DSC measurements of brush copolymer shows two glass transition temperatures at 101 °C corresponding to polystyrene blocks and at 153°C corresponding to polySt-MAn blocks. The results also show that a combination of high functional group tolerance of ROMP initiated by ruthenium-based catalysts with comonomers range for RAFT copolymerization results in the preparation of brush copolymers having nanoscale frameworks.