Synthesis of graft polymers with poly(isoprene) as main chain by living anionic polymerization mechanism

The graft polymers poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(styrene)] (PI‐g‐PS), poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(isoprene)] (PI‐g‐PI), poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(isoprene)‐block‐poly(styrene))] PI‐g‐(PI‐b‐PS), and poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(isoprene))] PI‐g‐(PS‐b‐PI) with PI as main chain were synthesized through living anionic polymerization (LAP) mechanism and the efficient coupling reaction. First, the PI was synthesized by LAP mechanism and epoxidized in H₂O₂/HCOOH system for epoxidized PI (EPI). Then, the graft polymers with controlled molecular weight of main chain and side chains, and grafting ratios were obtained by coupling reaction between PI^?Li⁺, PS^?Li⁺, PS‐b‐PI^?Li⁺, or PI‐b‐PS^?Li⁺ macroanions and the epoxide on EPI. The target polymers and all intermediates were well characterized by SEC,¹H NMR, as well as their thermal properties were also evaluated by DSC. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012