Sensitive Voltammetric Response of p‐Nitroaniline on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube‐Ionic Liquid Gel Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes

An ionic liquid (i.e., 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, BMIMPF₆)‐single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) gel modified glassy carbon electrode (BMIMPF₆‐SWNT/GCE) is fabricated. At it the voltammetric behavior and determination of p‐nitroaniline (PNA) is explored. PNA can exhibit a sensitive cathodic peak at ?0.70 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution on the electrode, resulting from the irreversible reduction of PNA. Under the optimized conditions, the peak current is linear to PNA concentration over the range of 1.0×10^?8–7.0×10^?6 M, and the detection limit is 8.0×10^?9 M. The electrode can be regenerated by successive potential scan in a blank solution for about 5 times and exhibits good reproducibility. Meanwhile, the feasibility to determine other nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) with the modified electrode is also tested. It is found that the NACs studied (i.e., p‐nitroaniline, p‐nitrophenol, o‐nitrophenol, m‐nitrophenol, p‐nitrobenzoic acid, and nitrobenzene) can all cause sensitive cathodic peaks under the conditions, but their peak potentials and peak currents are different to some extent. Their peak currents and concentrations show linear relationships in concentration ranges with about 3 orders of magnitude. The detection limits are 8.0×10^?9 M for p‐nitroaniline, 2.0×10^?9 M for p‐nitrophenol, 5.0×10^?9 M for o‐nitrophenol, 5.0×10^?9 M for m‐nitrophenol, 2.0×10^?8 M for p‐nitrobenzoic acid and 8.0×10^?9 M for nitrobenzene respectively. The BMIMPF₆‐SWNT/GCE is applied to the determination of NACs in lake water.     

Design of a Vitamin B1‐Selective Electrode Based on an Ion‐Pair and Its Application to Pharmaceutical Analysis

Vitamin B₁‐selective electrodes with PVC membrane were developed that contain ion associates of vitamin B₁ with an inorganic anion, BiI₄^?, and an organic anion, brilliant yellow, as electrode‐active substances. The linearity ranges of the electrode function are 1.0×10^?5–1.0×10^?2 and 1.0×10^?4–1.0×10^?2 M, the electrode function slopes are 33.0±1.0 and 33.1±1.1 mV decade^?1, the detection limits are 5.5×10^?6 and 8.3×10^?5 M for BiI₄^? and brilliant yellow respectively. The working range of pH is 5–12. The efficiency of the use of electrodes for the vitamin B₁ content control in multivitamin pharmaceutical preparations was shown by direct potentiometry and potentiometric titration methods.     

Electrochemical Behavior and Determination of Hyoscine‐N‐Butylbromide from Pharmaceutical Preparations

The electrooxidation of hyoscine N‐butylbromide (HBB) was investigated by rotating disk electrode voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry in 0.1 M HNO₃ and in 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) solutions of acetonitrile at a platinum (Pt) electrode. Based on the results obtained, it is suggested that a bromide ion of HBB was oxidized in one reversible step in aqueous solutions and in two reversible steps in acetonitrile. A differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method at a Pt electrode was developed for the determination of HBB in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^?6‐1.0 × 10^?3 M. The procedure was applied to the determination of HBB in its formulations as well as its recovery from blood serum and urine samples.     

The Electropolymerization of 2,6‐Diaminopyridine and Its Application as Mercury Ion Selective Electrode

A composite graphite (CG) electrode modified with poly(2,6‐diaminopyridine) (PDAP) was used as solid state‐ion selective electrode for determination of mercury. The electrooxidation of monomer 2, 6 diaminopyridine (DAP) onto CG was accomplished from the 30 mM DAP in 5% H₂SO₄ and 0.5 M ZnSO₄. The electrode displayed Nernstian response with slope of 28.4±1 mV decade⁻¹ in concentration range of 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻¹ M and in solution of pH 3–5. The limit of detection for electrode was 3×10⁻⁸ M with response time of 25 s. The electrode was also suitable as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Hg²⁺ with iodide.     

An All‐solid‐state Polymeric Membrane Ca2+‐selective Electrode Based on Hydrophobic Alkyl‐chain‐functionalized Graphene Oxide

An all‐solid‐state polymeric membrane Ca²⁺‐selective electrode based on hydrophobic octadecylamine‐functionalized graphene oxide has been developed. The hydrophobic composite in the ion‐selective membrane not only acts as a transduction element to improve the potential stability for the all‐solid‐state Ca²⁺‐selective electrode, but also is used to immobilize Ca²⁺ ionophore with lipophilic side chains through hydrophobic interactions. The developed all‐solid‐state Ca²⁺‐selective electrode shows a stable potential response in the linear range of 3.0×10⁻⁷–1.0×10⁻³ M with a slope of 24.7±0.3 mV/dec, and the detection limit is (1.6±0.2 )×10⁻⁷ M (n =3). Additionally, due to the hydrophobicity and electrical conductivity of the composite, the proposed all‐solid‐state ion‐selective electrode exhibits an improved stability with the absence of water layer between the ion‐selective membrane and the underlying glassy carbon electrode. This work provides a simple, efficient and low‐cost methodology for developing stable and robust all‐solid‐state ion‐selective electrode with ionophore immobilization.     

A Novel Electrochemical Sensor Based on Copper‐based Metal‐Organic Framework for the Determination of Dopamine

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a copper‐based metal‐organic framework (MOF) [HKUST‐1, HKUST‐1 = Cu₃(BTC)₂ (BTC = 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylicacid)] was developed as a highly sensitive and simple electrochemical sensor for the determination of dopamine (DA). The MOF was prepared by a hydrothermal process, and the morphology and crystal phase of the MOF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Meanwhile, the electrochemical performance was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimized conditions, the modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and high selectivity toward DA. The linear response range was from 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M and the detection limit was as low as 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ M. Moreover, the electrochemical sensor was used to detect DA in real samples with excellent results. MOF‐based sensors hold great promise for routine sensing applications in the field of electrochemical sensing.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrite Ion on a Toluidine Blue Sol‐Gel Thin Film Electrode Derived from 3‐Aminopropyl Trimethoxy Silane

An organically modified sol‐gel electrode using 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxy silane for covalent immobilization of a redox mediator namely toluidine blue has been reported. Cyclic voltammetric characterization of the modified electrode in the potential range of 0.2 V to ?0.6 V exhibited stable voltammetric behavior in aqueous supporting electrolyte with a formal potential of ?0.265 V vs. SCE, corresponding to immobilized toluidine blue. The electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrode when tested towards nitrite ion exhibited a favorable response with the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite occurring at a reduced potential of ?0.34 V. A good linear working range from 2.94×10^?6 M to 2.11×10^?3 M with a detection limit of 1.76×10^?6 M and quantification limit of 5.87×10^?6 M was obtained for nitrite determination. The stable and quick response (4 s) of the modified electrode towards nitrite under hydrodynamic conditions shows the feasibility of using the present sensor in flow systems. Significant improvements in the operational stability by overcoming the leachability problem and repeatability with a relative standard deviation of 1.8% of the TB thin film sensor have been obtained by the strategy of immobilization of the mediator in the sol‐gel matrix.     

Electrochemically Generated Recognition Sites in Self‐doped Polyaniline Modified Electrodes for Voltammetric and Potentiometric Determination of Copper(II) Ion

Chemical recognition elements for copper(II) ion have been generated in electrodes modified with poly(aniline‐co‐metanilic acid), P(An‐co‐MA), membrane and the resulting electrodes were used as selective sensors for voltammetric and potentiometric determination of this ion in an extended pH range. The P(An‐co‐MA) membrane was electrodeposited from aqueous mixed monomer solutions of An and MA, without the presence of a supporting electrolyte. For generating the recognition elements, P(An‐co‐MA) modified electrodes were subjected to several consecutive reduction/oxidation potential steps in copper(II) ion solution. It seems that during these potential steps, the receptor sites of the membrane are adjusted to the size, complexing property and hard/soft nature of copper(II) ion. This electrochemically mediated templating process, provided a selective sensor for determination of copper(II) ion. The results of preconcentration/differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, indicated analytical relation between the peak current and concentration of copper(II) from 1.0×10⁻⁹ to 1.0×10⁻⁴ M. The interference effect of various metal ions was explored and it was found that only mercury and silver ions show a considerable interference. The sensor exhibited selective potentiometric response for copper(II) over a wide concentration range (1.0×10⁻⁸ to 1.0×10⁻³ M) with a Nernstian slope of 27.9±0.3 mV per decade of copper(II) ion activity.     

[Cu(L)](NO3)2 (L=4,7‐Bis(3‐aminopropyl)‐1‐thia‐4,7‐diazacyclononane) as a Suitable Ionophore for Construction of Thiocyanate‐Selective Electrodes and Their Use in Determination of Urinary and Salivary Thiocyanate Concentration

The construction, performance characteristics, and application of polymeric membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) thiocyanate‐selective electrodes are reported. The electrodes were prepared by incorporating the complex [Cu(L)](NO₃)₂ (L=4,7‐bis(3‐aminopropyl)‐1‐thia‐4,7‐diazacyclononane) into a plasiticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane. The influence of membrane composition, pH of test solution, and foreign ions were investigated. The electrodes reveal Nernstian behavior over a wide SCN^? ion concentration range (1.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?1 M for PME and 5.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?2 M for CGE) and show fast dynamic response times of 15 s and lower. The proposed sensors show high selectivity towards thiocyanate over several common organic and inorganic anions. They were successfully applied to the direct determination of thiocyanate in urine and saliva of smokers and nonsmokers, and as an indicator electrode in titration of Ag⁺ ions with thiocyanate.     

A Copper(II) Ion‐Selective Potentiometric Sensor Based on N,N′,N″,N′′′‐Tetrakis(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane in PVC Matrix

The simple PVC‐based membrane containing N,N′,N″,N′′′‐tetrakis(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane (tpmc) as an ionophore and dibutyl phthalate as a plasticizer, directly coated on a glassy carbon electrode was examined as a new sensor for Cu²⁺ ions. The potential response was linear within the concentration range of 1.0×10^?1–1.0×10^?6 M with a Nernstian slope of 28.8 mV/decade and detection limit of 7.0×10^?7 M. The electrode was used in aqueous solutions over a wide pH range (1.3–6). The sensor exhibited excellent selectivity for Cu²⁺ ion over a number of cations and was successfully used in its determination in real samples.     

Poly(ortho‐toluidine) Modified Carbon Paste Electrode: A Sensor for Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrite

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite has been studied by poly(ortho‐toluidine) films modified carbon paste electrode (P‐OT/MCPE). Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques were used to investigate the suitability of poly(ortho‐toluidine) as a mediator for the electrocatalytic nitrite reduction in aqueous solution with various pH. Results showed that pH 0.00 is the most suitable for this purpose. In the optimum pH, the reduction of nitrite occurs at a potential about 600 mV more positive than unmodified carbon paste electrode. The catalytic reaction rate constant, (k_h), was calculated 8.68×10² M^?1 s^?1 by the data of chronoamperometry. The catalytic reduction peak current was linearly dependent on the nitrite concentration and the linearity range obtained was 5.00×10^?4 M–1.90×10^?2 M. Detection limit has been found to be 3.38×10^?4 M (2σ). This method has been successfully employed for quantification of nitrite in real sample.     

Investigation of the Reaction of Gold(III) with 2‐[2‐(4‐Dimethylamino‐Phenyl)‐Vinyl]‐1,3,3‐Trimethyl‐3H‐Indolium. Application for Determination of Gold

A new, simple, rapid, sensitive, efficient and low‐cost spectrophotometric procedure for the determination of gold was developed. The method is based on the reaction of [AuCl₄]^? with 2‐[2‐(4‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐vinyl]‐1,3,3‐trimethyl‐3H‐indolium reagent to form a colored ion associate extractable by various organic solvents. The molar absorptivity of the ion associates is in the range (5.7–9.2) × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 depending on the extractant. Butyl acetate was chosen as the extractant. The optimum reaction conditions were established: pH 2–4, concentration of the dye reagent (0.8–1.5) × 10^?4 mol L^?1. The determination of gold is not hindered even by a 1000‐fold concentration of Ni and Co; a 500‐fold concentration of Pb and Zn; a 100‐fold concentration of Bi, Cu, Cd, Pt, Rh and Ru; or a 20‐fold concentration of Ag. The established method was applied to the determination of gold in model samples and enriched polymetallic ores.     

Mixed Aza‐Thioether Crowns Containing a 1,10‐Phenanthroline Sub‐Unit as Neutral Ionophores for Silver Ion

Three different recently synthesized aza‐thioether crowns containing a 1,10‐phenanthroline sub‐unit (L1–L3) and a corresponding acyclic ligand (L4) were studied to characterize their abilities as silver ion ionophores in PVC‐membrane electrodes. Novel conventional silver‐selective electrodes with internal reference solution (CONISE) and coated graphite‐solid contact electrodes (SCISE) were prepared based on one of the 15‐membered crowns containing two donating S atoms and two phenanthroline‐N atoms (L1). The electrodes reveal a Nernstian behavior over wide Ag⁺ ion concentration ranges (1.0×10^?5?1.0×10^?1 M for CONISE and 5.0×10^?8?4.0×10^?2 M for SCISE) and very low limits of detection (8.0×10^?6 M for CONISE and 3.0×10^?8 M for SCISE). The potentiometric response is independent from pH of the solution in the pH range 3.0–8.0. The electrodes manifest advantages of low resistance, very fast response and, most importantly, good selectivities relative to a wide variety of other cations. The electrodes can be used for at least 2 months (for CONISE) and 4 months for (SCISE) without any appreciable divergence in potentials. The electrodes were used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Ag⁺ ion and in the determination of silver in photographic emulsions and in radiographic and photographic films.     

Novel Ytterbium(III) Selective Membrane Sensor Based on N‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐N′‐(2‐Methoxyphenyl)‐Thiourea as an Excellent Carrier and Its Application to Determination of Fluoride in Mouth Wash Preparation Samples

The construction, performance, and applications of a novel ytterbium(III) sensor based on N‐(2‐pyridyl)‐N′‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐thiourea (PMT), as an excellent carrier, in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) PVC matrix, is described. The influences of membrane composition and pH on the potentiometric response of the sensor were investigated. The sensor exhibits a nice Nernstian response for Yb(III) ion over a wide concentration range of 4 decades of concentration (1.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?2 M), and a detection limit of 5.0×10^?7 M. The response time of the electrodes is between 8 and 10 s, depending on the concentration of ytterbium(III) ions. The proposed sensor can be used for about 8 weeks without any considerable divergence in potential. The sensor revealed very good selectivity for Yb(III) in the presence of several metal ions. The best performance was observed for the membrane containing; 30% PVC, 59% o‐nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) as solvent mediator, 7% PMT, and 4% sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB). It was successfully applied as indicator electrodes in the potentiometric titration of Yb(III) with EDTA and for the determination of fluoride ion in two mouth wash formulations. The proposed La(III) sensor was found to work well under laboratory conditions. It was also used as an indicator electrode in titration of a 1.0×10^?4 M of Yb(III) with a standard EDTA solution (1.0×10^?2 M). It was also used for determination of Yb(III) ion in Xenotime .     

A Fast Response Strontium Ion‐Selective Electrode Prepared by Sol‐Gel Membrane Technique

A sol‐gel electrode, based on 6‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐4,4‐dipropyl‐3,5‐diaza‐bicyclo [3,1,0] hex‐2‐ene (NPDBH) as a neutral ionophore, was successfully developed for the detection of Sr²⁺ in aqueous solutions. Theoretical calculations confirmed NPDBH selectivity toward strontium in comparison with some other metal ions. The electrode responds to Sr²⁺ ion with a sensitivity of 29.1±0.4 mV/decade over the range 8.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?1 M. Selectivity coefficients determined by matched potential method (MPM) indicate high selectivity for strontium ions. The electrode has a fast response time of 11 s and a working pH range of 3.0–10.0. The sol‐gel electrode shows detection limit of 7.5×10^?8 M.     

Crystal structure and the role of cation group factor in the third‐order nonlinear optical properties of cadmium complexes constructed by 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dithiolato ligand

A cadmium complex bis(benzyltriethylammonium) bis(1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dithiolato)‐cadmium(II) ((TEBA)₂[Cd(DMIT)₂]) has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been determined by means of X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. The central cadmium(II) ion coordinates with two DMIT, which constructed a distorted tetrahedron environment. Its third‐order nonlinear optical properties have been studied using Z‐scan technique with 20 ps pulses at wavelength 1064 nm. Its third‐order nonlinear susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ value was determined to be 1.24 × 10⁻¹⁹ m² V⁻², the figure of merit, χ⁽³⁾/α₀, was estimated to be 2.64 × 10⁻²⁰ m³ V⁻². Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical Properties of Th(IV)‐Hexacyanoferrate Sol‐Gel Carbon Composite Electrode: Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Dopamine and Ascorbic Acid

A new sol‐gel carbon composite electrode using hexacyanoferrate (HCF)‐Th(IV) ion pair as a suitable modifier is fabricated in the present study. The Th(IV)‐HCF‐sol‐gel carbon composite electrode (THCF‐CCE) has been prepared by mixing methyl trimethoxysilan (MTMOS) sol‐gel precursor and carbon powder with ion pair and then to fix in a plastic tube. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were employed to study the electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of proposed electrode. The apparent charge transfer rate constant, k_s, and transfer coefficient, α, for electron transfer between ion‐pair and sol‐gel CPE were calculated as 3.10 ± 0.10 s^?1 and 0.52, respectively. The THCF‐CCE showed a significant electrocatalytic activity towards oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA) in 0.1 M acidic phosphate buffer solutions (pH 3) containing KCl as a supporting electrolyte. The mean value of the diffusion coefficients for ascorbic acid and dopamine were found 4.12 × 10^?5 and 4.43 × 10^?5 (cm²s^?1), respectively. High stability, good reproducibility, rapid response, easy surface regeneration and fabrication are the important characteristics of the proposed sensor. The resulting peaks from the electrocatalytic oxidation of AA and DA were well resolved with good sensitivity. A linear response was observed for AA and DA in the concentration range of 1 × 10^?5 to 3 × 10^?3 M and 4 × 10^?6 to 2.2 × 10^?4 M, respectively.     

Investigation of Silver(I) Ion Sensing Property of Ruthenium(II) Thiosemicarbazone Complex Using Coated Graphite and Polymeric Membrane Electrodes

A ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(PPh₃)₂(pytsc)₂] {Hpytsc = pyridine‐2‐carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone, (C₅H₅N)C²(H)=N³‐N²(H)‐C¹(=S)N¹H} has been used as an ion carrier for the selective determination of silver(I) ions in solution. Silver(I) ion‐selective coated graphite based (CGE) and PVC polymeric membrane based (PME) electrodes exhibit Nernstian slope for silver(I) ions over a wide concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M to 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ M (with CGE) and 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ M (with PME). The working pH range of these electrodes has been found to be from 1.2 to 7.2 for CGE and 2.2 to 6.5 for PME. The proposed CGE sensor exhibits better analytical features like sensitivity and selectivity towards different secondary ions in comparison to the corresponding PME with no interference from mercury(II) ions . These electrodes also act as indicator electrodes in potentiometric titration and have been successfully used for the determination of silver content in solution of real samples (1 gm dissolved in 100 mL of dilute nitric acid) such as silver ornaments and thin silver foils. Silver content determined by the use of ion selective electrode was found to vary in the concentration range from 1.20 x 10⁻² M to 7.45 x 10⁻² M and results were found to be comparable with those obtained from the traditional volumetric method of analysis. It is the first report of a metal‐ligand complex used as an ion carrier in ion selective electrode, which is selective for a metal ion other than the one used in the complex.     

Highly Selective and Sensitive Membrane Sensors for Copper(II) Ion Based on a New Benzo‐Substituted Macrocyclic Diamide 6,7,8,9,10‐Hexahydro‐2H‐1,13,4,7,10‐benzodioxatriazacyclopentadecine‐3,11(4H,12H)‐dione

Novel PVC membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) Cu²⁺‐selective electrodes based on 5,6,7,8,9,10‐hexahydro‐2H‐1,13,4,7,10‐benzodioxatriazacyclopentadecine‐3,11(4H,12H)‐dione are prepared. The electrodes reveal a Nernstian behavior over wide Cu²⁺ ion concentration ranges (1.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?1 M for PME and 1.0×10^?8–1.0×10^?1 M for CGE) with very low limits of detection (7.8×10^?8 M for PME and 9.1×10^?9 M for CGE). The potentiometric responses are independent of the pH of the test solutions in the pH range 2.7–6.2. The proposed electrodes possess very good selectivities for Cu²⁺ over a wide variety of the cations including alkali, alkaline earth, transitions and heavy metal ions. The practical utility of the proposed electrodes have been demonstrated by their use in the study of interactions between copper ions and human growth hormone (hGH) in biological systems, potentiometric titration of copper with EDTA and determination of copper content of a sheep blood serum sample and some other real samples.     

Poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) multiarm star‐block copolymers

Multiarm star‐branched polymers based on poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) (PS‐PIB) block copolymer arms were synthesized under controlled/living cationic polymerization conditions using the 2‐chloro‐2‐propylbenzene (CCl)/TiCl₄/pyridine (Py) initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as gel‐core‐forming comonomer. To optimize the timing of isobutylene (IB) addition to living PS⊕, the kinetics of styrene (St) polymerization at −80°C were measured in both 60 : 40 (v : v) methyl cyclohexane (MCHx) : MeCl and 60 : 40 hexane : MeCl cosolvents. For either cosolvent system, it was found that the polymerizations followed first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer and the number of actively growing chains remained invariant. The rate of polymerization was slower in MCHx : MeCl (k_app = 2.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) compared with hexane : MeCl (k_app = 5.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 3.64 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M). Intermolecular alkylation reactions were observed at [St]_o = 0.93M but could be suppressed by avoiding very high St conversion and by setting [St]_o ≤ 0.35M. For St polymerization, k_app = 1.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.82 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M); this was significantly higher than that observed for IB polymerization (k_app = 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹; [CCl]_o = [Py] = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.86 × 10⁻³M; [IB]_o = 1.0M). Blocking efficiencies were higher in hexane : MeCl compared with MCHx : MeCl cosolvent system. Star formation was faster with PS‐PIB arms compared with PIB homopolymer arms under similar conditions. Using [DVB] = 5.6 × 10⁻²M = 10 times chain end concentration, 92% of PS‐PIB arms (M_n,PS = 2600 and M_n,PIB = 13,400 g/mol) were linked within 1 h at −80°C with negligible star–star coupling. It was difficult to achieve complete linking of all the arms prior to the onset of star–star coupling. Apparently, the presence of the St block allows the PS‐PIB block copolymer arms to be incorporated into growing star polymers by an additional mechanism, namely, electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS), which leads to increased rates of star formation and greater tendency toward star–star coupling. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1629–1641, 1999