Characterization of the interaction energies for polystyrene blends with various methacrylate polymers

The binary interaction energies between styrene and various methacrylates were determined from newly examined phase boundaries with lattice–fluid theory. Because the blends of polystyrene (PS) and poly(cyclohexylmethacrylate) (PCHMA) were only miscible at high molecular weights when the blends were prepared by solution casting from tetrahydrofuran, we examined the miscibility of other blends by changing the molecular weights of PS or methacrylate polymers. On the basis of the phase‐separation temperature caused by the lower critical solution temperature, the miscibility of PS with the various methacrylates appeared to be in the order PCHMA > poly(n‐propyl‐methacrylate) (PnPMA) > poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) > poly(n‐butyl‐methacrylate) (PnBMA) > poly(iso‐butyl‐methacrylate) > poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) > poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate), and the branching of butylmethacrylate appeared to decrease the miscibility with PS. The interaction energies between PS with various methacrylates obtained from phase boundaries with lattice–fluid theory reached minimum value corresponding to the styrene/n‐propylmethacrylate interaction. They were in the order PnPMA < PEMA < PCHMA < PnBMA < PMMA. The difference in the order of miscibility and interaction energies might be attributed to the terms related to the compressibility. The phase‐separation temperatures calculated with the interaction energies obtained here indicated that the PS/PEMA and PS/PnPMA blends at high molecular weights were miscible, whereas the PS/PnBMA blends were immiscible at high molecular weights. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2666–2677, 2000     

Encapsulation of ZnS:Mn2+ nanocrystals with diblock copolymers

The encapsulation of the nanocrystalline manganese‐doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Mn) in poly(styrene‐b‐2vinylpyridine) (PS‐PVP) diblock copolymers is reported. Below the critical micelle concentration in the absence of nanocrystals (NCs), inverse micelles of PS‐PVP were induced by adding ZnS:Mn NCs, the presence of which was confirmed by scanning force microscope and dynamic light scattering. In toluene, a PS‐selective solvent, the less‐soluble PVP blocks preferentially surround the ligand‐coated ZnS:Mn NCs. For PS‐PVP encapsulated ZnS:Mn NCs, the ratio of blue emission to orange emission of ZnS:Mn NCs is dependent on both the concentration of PS‐PVP and the solvent quality. The pyridine of PVP blocks form complexes with the Zn atoms via the nitrogen lone pair and thus the sulfur vacancies are passivated. As a result, the defect‐related blue emission is selectively quenched even when the micelles are not formed. As the concentration of PS‐PVP encapsulating the ZnS:Mn NCs increases, the intensity of blue emission decreases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3227–3233, 2006     

Thermal gelation or gel melting: (ethylene glycol)113‐(l‐alanine)12 and (ethylene glycol)113‐(l‐lactic acid)12

When PEG (M.W.～5000 Daltons) is conjugated to poly(l ‐alanine), the polymer aqueous solutions (<10.0 wt.%) undergo sol‐to‐gel (thermal gelation), whereas it is conjugated to poly(l ‐lactic acid), the polymer aqueous solutions (>30.0 wt.%) undergo gel‐to‐sol (gel melting) as the temperature increases. In the search for molecular origins of such a quite different phase behavior, poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(l ‐alanine) (PEG‐PA; EG₁₁₃‐A₁₂) and poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PEG‐PLA; EG₁₁₃‐LA₁₂) are synthesized and their aqueous solution behavior is investigated. PEG‐PAs with an α‐helical core assemble into micelles with a broad size distribution, and the dehydration of PEG drives the aggregation of the micelles, leading to thermal gelation, whereas increased molecular motion of the PLA core overwhelms the partial dehydration of PEG, thus gel melting of the PEG‐PLA aqueous solutions occurs. The core‐rigidity of micelles must be one of the key factors in determining whether a polymer aqueous solution undergoes sol‐to‐gel or gel‐to‐sol transition, as the temperature increases. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, , 52, 2434–2441     

Sequential double polymer click reactions for the preparation of regular graft copolymers

In this study, graft copolymers with regular graft points containing polystyrene (PS) backbone and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA), or poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains were simply achieved by a sequential double polymer click reactions. The linear α‐alkyne‐ω‐azide PS with an anthracene pendant unit per chain was produced via atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene initiated by anthracen‐9‐ylmethyl 2‐((2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropanoyloxy)methyl)‐2‐methyl‐3‐oxo‐3‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy) propyl succinate. Subsequently, the azide–alkyne click coupling of this PS to create the linear multiblock PS chain with pendant anthracene sites per PS block, followed by Diels–Alder click reaction with maleimide end‐functionalized PMMA, PtBA, or PEG yielded final PS‐g‐PMMA, PS‐g‐PtBA or PS‐g‐PEG copolymers with regular grafts, respectively. Well‐defined polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and triple detection GPC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Quadruple click reactions for the synthesis of cysteine‐terminated linear multiblock copolymers

Synthesis of cysteine‐terminated linear polystyrene (PS)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/or poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)(PtBA)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymers was carried out using sequential quadruple click reactions including thiol‐ene, copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), Diels–Alder, and nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reactions. N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine methyl ester was first clicked with α‐allyl‐ω‐azide‐terminated PS via thiol‐ene reaction to create α‐cysteine‐ω‐azide‐terminated PS. Subsequent CuAAC reaction with PCL, followed by the introduction of the PMMA/or PtBA and PEG blocks via Diels–Alder and NRC, respectively, yielded final cysteine‐terminated multiblock copolymers. By ¹H NMR spectroscopy, the DP_ns of the blocks in the final multiblock copolymers were found to be close to those of the related polymer precursors, indicating that highly efficient click reactions occurred for polymer–polymer coupling. Successful quadruple click reactions were also confirmed by gel permeation chromatography. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of pyrene bearing amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer and its noncovalent interactions with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

A novel amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer, polystyrene‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(methyl methacrylate), bearing a pyrene group at the end of PS arm (Pyrene‐PS‐PEG‐PMMA) was successfully synthesized via combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and click chemistry. The structure and composition of the amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. The functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via “π–π” stacking interactions with pyrene‐PS‐PEG‐PMMA miktoarm star polymer was accomplished and the resulting polymer‐MWCNTs hybrid was analyzed by using ¹H NMR, UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and analytical techniques aforementioned confirmed that the noncovalent functionalization of MWCNT's with the amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer was successfully achieved. The MWCNT/pyrene‐PS‐PEG‐PMMA exhibited significant dispersion stability in common organic solvents such as dimethyl formamide, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of microspheres with microphase‐separated shells

Novel structural microspheres of the Janus type, with microphase‐separated polystyrene (PS) and poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) shells and crosslinked poly(2‐vinyl pyridine) (PVP) cores, were synthesized with the crosslinking of PVP spherical domains in poly(styrene‐block‐2‐vinyl pyridine‐block‐tert‐butyl methacrylate) ABC triblock terpolymer film with PS/PBMA lamellae–PVP spherical structures. For the formation of lamellae‐sphere structures, toluene, which was a selective solvent for the ABC triblock terpolymer, was used. With the crosslinking of PVP spheres in the microphase‐separated film with 1,4‐diiodobutane gas, the microphase structure of the terpolymer was fixed, and microspheres composed of microphase‐separated PS and PBMA shells and P2VP cores were obtained. The size distribution of the purified microspheres was narrow. The characteristics of the microspheres and their aggregation behaviors in selective solvents were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and light scattering methods. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2091–2097, 2000     

Preparation of block copolymers via Diels Alder reaction of maleimide‐ and anthracene‐end functionalized polymers

A number of diblock copolymers were successfully prepared by Diels–Alder reaction, between maleimide‐ and anthracene‐end functionalized poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in toluene, at 110 °C. For this purpose, 2‐bromo‐2‐methyl‐propionic acid 2‐(3,5‐dioxo‐10‐oxa‐4‐azatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec‐8‐en‐4‐yl)‐ethyl ester, 2 , 9‐anthyrylmethyl 2‐bromo‐2‐methyl propanoate, 3 , and 2‐bromo‐propionic acid 2‐(3,5‐dioxo‐10‐oxa‐4‐azatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec‐8‐en‐4‐yl)‐ethyl ester, 4 , were used as initiators in atom transfer radical polymerization, in the presence of Cu(I) salt and pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA), at various temperatures. On the other hand, PEG with maleimide‐ or anthracene‐end functionality was achieved by esterification between monohydroxy PEG and succinic acid monoathracen‐9‐ylmethyl ester, 1 , or 4‐maleimido‐benzoyl chloride. Thus‐obtained PMMA‐b‐PS, PEG‐b‐PS, PtBA‐b‐PS, and PMMA‐b‐PEG block copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, UV, and GPC. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1667–1675, 2006     

Synthesis of tadpole polymers via triple click reactions: Copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition,diels–alder,and nitroxide radical coupling reactions

We designed a trifunctional initiator ( 3 ) containing anthracene, bromide, and OH functionalities and subsequently used as an initiator in atom transfer radical Polymerization (ATRP) of styrene to yield linear polystyrene (PS) with α‐anthracene, OH, and ω‐bromide terminal groups, of which bromide is later transformed into azide to result in the linear anthracene‐, OH‐, and azide‐terminated PS (l‐α‐anthracene‐OH‐ω‐azide‐PS). The copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction between l‐α‐anthracene‐OH‐ω‐azide‐PS and α‐furan‐protected‐maleimide‐ω‐alkyne linkage, 4 afforded the linear anthracene‐, OH‐, and maleimide‐terminated PS. The cyclization via intramolecular Diels–Alder click reaction of this linear PS and the subsequent conversion of the hydroxyl into bromide resulted in the cyclic PS with one bromide located on the ring, (c‐PS)‐Br. Finally, the c‐PS‐Br was clicked with either well‐defined tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) yielding the tadpole polymer, (c‐PS)‐b‐PEG or (c‐PS)‐b‐PCL. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Chelating properties of poly(N‐acryloyl piperazine) by liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention (LPR) technique

The synthesis of poly(N‐acryloylpiperazine) was carried out by radical polymerization giving a yield of 90%. The polymer was soluble in water and was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and TGA. The metal ability binding properties for the Ag(I), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cr(III) metal ions in the aqueous phase were investigated using the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention (LPR) method. The metal ion interactions with the hydrophilic polymers were determined as a function of pH and filtration factor.     

Potentiometric Studies of Some Bivalent Metal Ion Complexes of a New Ligand,o-(2-Thiazolylazo)-4-Ethylphenol

Abstract

The complexations of a new ligand, o-(2-thiazolylazo)-4-ethylphenol(TAEP) with Ca(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hq(II) and Pb(II) have been studied by potentiometric titrations, at 25.0 ± 0.2°C and an ionic strength of 0.1 in 30% v/v dioxane-water mixture. The dissociation constant and spectral data of TAEP and formation constants of the complexes containing various molar ratios of metal ion to ligand, are reported. It is observed that Ca(II) forms only an ML complex in any molar ratios, whereas other metal ions react in two steps forming ML and ML₂ complexes in a 1:3 molar ratio. In the case of 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios, Mn(II), Co(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) seemed to form bi- or poly-nuclear complexes because of slightly different formation curves from those of 1:3 molar ratio. The sequence of the first successive formation constant is Cu > Hg > Ni > Pb > Co > Zn > Cd > Mn > Ca, showing Mellor-Maley's order. Further correlation is shown between the formation constants and the second ionization potentials of the metals.     

Simultaneous dual end‐functionalization of peg via the passerini three‐component reaction for the synthesis of ABC miktoarm terpolymers

In this article, we demonstrate the Passerini three‐component reaction as a simple, effective method for the synthesis of polymers with double functional end groups, which are key precursors for the preparation of ABC miktoarm terpolymers. Thus, via the one‐step Passerini reaction of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)–propionaldehyde (PEG‐CHO) with 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionic acid and propargyl isocyanoacetamide, the PEG chain end was simultaneously functionalized with one atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating site and one alkynyl group. The resulting PEG(‐alkynyl)‐Br was then used for the synthesis of three types of miktoarm ABC terpolymers via two approaches. First, we conducted ATRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), then click reaction with azido‐terminated polystyrene (PS‐N₃) or poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA‐N₃) and obtained two ABC miktoarm terpolymers PEG(‐b‐PNIPAM)‐b‐PS and PEG(‐b‐PNIPAM)‐b‐PtBA. Alternatively, we conducted single electron transfer living radical polymerization of tBA and click reaction with PS‐N₃ simultaneously to give PEG(‐b‐PtBA)‐b‐PS. All the polymer precursors and miktoarm terpolymers have been characterized by ¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared, gel permeation chromatography, demonstrating that both approaches provided well‐defined ABC miktoarm terpolymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers through click reaction

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers, (polystyrene)(poly(methyl methacrylate))‐ poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐(polystyrene)(poly(methyl methacrylate)), (PS)(PMMA)‐PtBA‐(PMMA)(PS), and, (PS)(PMMA)‐poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)‐(PMMA)(PS), through click reaction strategy between PS‐PMMA copolymer (as side chains) with an alkyne functional group at the junction point and diazide end‐functionalized PtBA or PEG (as a main chain). PS‐PMMA with alkyne functional group was prepared by sequential living radical polymerizations such as the nitroxide mediated (NMP) and the metal mediated‐living radical polymerization (ATRP) routes. The obtained H‐shaped polymers were characterized by using ¹H‐NMR, GPC, DSC, and AFM measurements. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1055–1065, 2007     

Thermodynamics of interaction between sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinae and polymers in aqueous solutions by isothermal titration microcalorimetry

The interactions between sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinae (AOT) and two nonionic water‐soluble polymers, including polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) have been investigated by using isothermal titration microcalorimetry in aqueous solutions at 298.15 K. The results show that the critical aggregation concentration, which corresponding to the first turning point in the curve of experimental interaction heat versus concentration of the surfactant, is lower than the critical micellar concentration (cmc), confirming the existence of polymer‐surfactant interactions. The value of cac is not sensitive to the relative amount of polymer in low concentration range of the polymer. The mono‐layer saturated adsorption concentration, which corresponding to the second turning point, rises as the polymer concentration is increased. The interaction between PVP and AOT is stronger than that between PEG and AOT. The results also indicate that the aggregation of AOT in water and polymers solutions is entropically driven. The observed thermal effects have been interpreted in terms of the interactions of the polymer molecules with AOT monomers or the molecular clusters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 275–283, 2006     

Preparation,IR Characterization and Thermal Properties of Some Metal Complexes of Isatin-3-oxime

The synthesis and characterization of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ag(I), Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes of isatin-3-oxime (H₂OXI) are reported. Elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction were used to characterize the complexes. The IR spectral data show that the ligand behaves in a monodentate or a bidentate manner in the different complexes. The compositions of the prepared complexes were Ag(HOXI), Hg(OXI) and M(HOXI)₂ for M=Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II).This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dendrimers as scaffolds for multifunctional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents: Syntheses and polymerization

The synthesis and characterization of novel first‐ and second‐generation true dendritic reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents carrying 6 or 12 pendant 3‐benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanylpropionic acid RAFT end groups with Z‐group architecture based on 1,1,1‐hydroxyphenyl ethane and trimethylolpropane cores are described in detail. The multifunctional dendritic RAFT agents have been used to prepare star polymers of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) and polystyrene (PS) of narrow polydispersities (1.4 < polydispersity index < 1.1 for PBA and 1.5 < polydispersity index < 1.3 for PS) via bulk free‐radical polymerization at 60 °C. The novel dendrimer‐based multifunctional RAFT agents effect an efficient living polymerization process, as evidenced by the linear evolution of the number‐average molecular weight (M_n) with the monomer–polymer conversion, yielding star polymers with molecular weights of up to M_n = 160,000 g mol^?1 for PBA (based on a linear PBA calibration) and up to M_n = 70,000 g mol^?1 for PS (based on a linear PS calibration). A structural change in the chemical nature of the dendritic core (i.e., 1,1,1‐hydroxyphenyl ethane vs trimethylolpropane) has no influence on the observed molecular weight distributions. The star‐shaped structure of the generated polymers has been confirmed through the cleavage of the pendant arms off the core of the star‐shaped polymeric materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5877–5890, 2004     

Graft copolymers via ROMP and Diels–Alder click reaction strategy

Anthracene‐functionalized oxanorbornene monomer and oxanorbornenyl polystyrene (PS) with ω‐anthracene end‐functionalized macromonomer were first polymerized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using the first‐generation Grubbs' catalyst in dichloromethane at room temperature and then clicked with maleimide end‐functionalized polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐MI, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐MI, and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA)‐MI in a Diels–Alder reaction in toluene at 120 °C to create corresponding graft copolymers, poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐PEG, poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐PMMA, and graft block copolymers, poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐(PS‐b‐PEG), poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐(PS‐b‐PMMA), and poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐(PS‐b‐PtBA), respectively. Diels–Alder click reaction efficiency for graft copolymerization was monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy. The dn/dc values of graft copolymers and graft block copolymers were experimentally obtained using a triple detection gel permeation chromatography and subsequently introduced to the software so as to give molecular weights, intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and hydrodynamic radius (R_h) values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Controlled self‐assembly of porphyrin/fullerene donor–acceptor complex in a polymer thin film

Thin films composed of polycyclohexane (PCHE), zinc(II)‐5,10,15,20‐tetra‐(2‐naphthyl)porphyrin (ZnTNpP), and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends are prepared to investigate their potential for the controlled self‐assembly of a porphyrin/fullerene donor–acceptor complex in a polymer thin film. The compatibilities of PCHE/PCBM (p), PCHE/ZnTNpP (q), and ZnTNpP/PCBM (r) in these blends have a significant effect on the dispersion of the ZnTNpP/PCBM donor–acceptor complex in the PCHE thin film. When the compatibilities are p << q, r, and q ≈ r, the ZnTNpP/PCBM donor–acceptor complex is formed between the PCHE and PCBM phases. This concept to form a controlled self‐assembly of the ZnTNpP/PCBM donor–acceptor complex may be applied to various combinations of porphyrin/fullerene systems in polymer thin film solar cells to achieve excellent performance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 743–746     

Control of droplet size of polymer–diluent blends through thermally induced phase separation

The effects of process conditions and molecular structure of polymer and diluent on the droplet size of membranes formed by thermally induced phase separatiom (TIPS) process were examined. The observed upper critical solution temperature–type phase boundaries of nylon‐12 blended with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and nylon 12 diluted with poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEGDE) and their interaction energy densities calculated using the Flory–Huggins theory suggest that the nylon‐12/PEGDE blends are less stable than the nylon‐12–PEG blends. Infrared spectra confirmed that the difference in phase stability might come from specific interactions of the hydroxyl terminal groups of PEG with the amide groups from nylon‐12, which are not be feasible in the nylon‐12–PEGDE blends. The phase stability of diluent PEG blended with various nylons that are different in the number of methyl groups in the repeat unit was ranked in the order of: nylon‐6–PEG blend < nylon‐12–PEG blend < nylon‐11–PEG blend. We also noted that the phase‐separated droplets grew by both coalescence and the Oswald ripening process after the onset of phase separation. As a result, the cubic exponent of average droplet radius (R³) plotted against time satisfied the linear relationship. As the blends became less stable, the droplet growth rate increased and larger equilibrium droplets formed at a constant quenching depth. The TIPS membranes with desired pore structure could be prepared by controlling the molecular structure of components as well as by varying processing conditions such as quenching depth and annealing time. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 3042–3052, 2000     

Multiarm star triblock terpolymers via sequential double click reactions

Multiarm star triblock terpolymers were obtained by using two different click reactions sequentially: Cu(I) catalyzed azide–alkyne and Diels–Alder. The synthetic strategy is described as follows: (poly(methyl methacrylate))_n‐(polystyrene)_m‐poly(divinyl benzene)) ((PMMA)_n‐(PS)_m‐polyDVB) multiarm star diblock copolymer was first obtained from an azide–alkyne click reaction of (alkyne‐PS)_m‐polyDVB multiarm star polymer with α‐anthracene‐ω‐azide PMMA (anth‐PMMA‐N₃), followed by a Diels–Alder click reaction of the anthracene groups at the star periphery with α‐maleimide poly (tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA‐MI) or α‐maleimide poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐MI) leading to target (PtBA)_k‐(PMMA)_n‐(PS)_m‐polyDVB and (PEG)_p‐(PMMA)_n‐(PS)_m‐polyDVB multiarm star triblock terpolymers. The hydrodynamic diameter of individual multiarm star triblock terpolymers were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) to be ～24–27 nm in consistent with the atomic force microscopy (AFM) images on silicon substrates. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1557–1564, 2010