Synthesis and morphology of polyethylene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) through the combination of metallocene catalysis with living radical polymerization

Polyethylene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PE‐b‐PMMA) was successfully synthesized through the combination of metallocene catalysis with living radical polymerization. Terminally hydroxylated polyethylene, prepared by ethylene/allyl alcohol copolymerization with a specific zirconium metallocene/methylaluminoxane/triethylaluminum catalyst system, was treated with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to produce terminally esterified polyethylene (PE‐Br). With the resulting PE‐Br as an initiator for transition‐metal‐mediated living radical polymerization, methyl methacrylate polymerization was subsequently performed with CuBr or RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ as a catalyst. Then, PE‐b‐PMMA block copolymers of different poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) contents were prepared. Transmission electron microscopy of the obtained block copolymers revealed unique morphological features that depended on the content of the PMMA segment. The block copolymer possessing 75 wt % PMMA contained 50–100‐nm spherical polyethylene lamellae uniformly dispersed in the PMMA matrix. Moreover, the PE‐b‐PMMA block copolymers effectively compatibilized homopolyethylene and homo‐PMMA at a nanometer level. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3965–3973, 2003     

Synthesis of amphiphilic copolymer brushes possessing alternating poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) grafts via a combination of ATRP and click chemistry

We report on the synthesis of well‐defined amphiphilic copolymer brushes possessing alternating poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) grafts, poly(PMMA‐alt‐PNIPAM), via a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click reaction (Scheme 1 ). Firstly, the alternating copolymerization of N‐[2‐(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl]maleimide (BIBEMI) with 4‐vinylbenzyl azide (VBA) affords poly(BIBEMI‐alt‐VBA). Bearing bromine and azide moieties arranged in an alternating manner, multifunctional poly(BIBEMI‐alt‐VBA) is capable of initiating ATRP and participating in click reaction. The subsequent ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using poly(BIBEMI‐alt‐VBA) as the macroinitiator leads to poly(PMMA‐alt‐VBA) copolymer brush. Finally, amphiphilic poly(PMMA‐alt‐PNIPAM) copolymer brush bearing alternating PMMA and PNIPAM grafts is synthesized via the click reaction of poly(PMMA‐alt‐VBA) with an excess of alkynyl‐terminated PNIPAM (alkynyl‐PNIPAM). The click coupling efficiency of PNIPAM grafts is determined to be ～80%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of poly(PMMA‐alt‐PNIPAM) reveals two glass transition temperatures (T_g). In aqueous solution, poly(PMMA‐alt‐PNIPAM) supramolecularly self‐assembles into spherical micelles consisting of PMMA cores and thermoresponsive PNIPAM coronas, which were characterized via a combination of temperature‐dependent optical transmittance, micro‐differential scanning calorimetry (micro‐DSC), dynamic and static laser light scattering (LLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2608–2619, 2009     

One‐step synthesis of hyperbranched polyethylene macroinitiator and its block copolymers with methyl methacrylate or styrene via ATRP

Block copolymers of hyperbranched polyethylene (PE) and linear polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with hyperbranched PE macroinitiators. The PE macroinitiators were synthesized through a “living” polymerization of ethylene catalyzed with a Pd‐diimine catalyst and end‐capped with 4‐chloromethyl styrene as a chain quenching agent in one step. The macroinitiator and block copolymer samples were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. The hyperbranched PE chains had narrow molecular weight distribution and contained a single terminal benzyl chloride per chain. Both hyperbranched PE and linear PS or PMMA blocks had well‐controlled molecular weights. Slow initiation was observed in ATRP because of steric effect of hyperbranched structures, resulting in slightly broad polydispersity index in the block copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3024–3032, 2010     

Synthesis of H‐shaped complex macromolecular structures by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization,photoinduced radical coupling,ring‐opening polymerization,and iniferter processes

Three controlled/living polymerization processes, namely atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and iniferter polymerization, and photoinduced radical coupling reaction were combined for the preparation of ABCBD‐type H‐shaped complex copolymer. First, α‐benzophenone functional polystyrene (BP‐PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (BP‐PMMA) were prepared independently by ATRP. The resulting polymers were irradiated to form ketyl radicals by hydrogen abstraction of the excited benzophenone moieties present at each chain end. Coupling of these radicals resulted in the formation of polystyrene‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PMMA) with benzpinacole structure at the junction point possessing both hydroxyl and iniferter functionalities. ROP of ε‐caprolactone (CL) by using PS‐b‐PMMA as bifunctional initiator, in the presence of stannous octoate yielded the corresponding tetrablock copolymer, PCL‐PS‐PMMA‐PCL. Finally, the polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) via iniferter process gave the targeted H‐shaped block copolymer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4601–4607     

Polymerization of MMA by oscillating zirconocene catalysts, diastereomeric zirconocene mixtures, and diastereospecific metallocene pairs

Characteristics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization using oscillating zirconocene catalysts, (2-Ph-Ind)₂ZrX₂ (X = Cl, 1; X = Me, 2), mixtures of rac- and meso-zirconocene diastereomers, (SBI)ZrMe₂ [3, SBI = Me₂Si(Ind)₂] and (EBI)ZrMe₂ [4, EBI = C₂H₄(Ind)₂], as well as diastereospecific metallocene pairs, rac-4/Cp₂ZrMe₂ (5) and rac-4/CGCTiMe₂ [6, CGC = Me₂Si(Me₄C₅)(t-BuN)], are reported. MMA polymerization using the chloride catalyst precursor 1 activated with a large excess of the modified methyl aluminoxane is sluggish, uncontrolled, and produces atactic PMMA. On the other hand, the polymerization by a 2/1 ratio of 2/B(C₆F₅)₃ or 2/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ is controlled and produces syndiotactic PMMA. Mixtures of diastereomeric ansa-zirconocenes 3 or 4 containing various rac/meso ratios, when activated with B(C₆F₅)₃, yield bimodal PMMA; this behavior is attributed to the meso-diastereomer that, in its pure form, affords bimodal, syndio-rich atactic PMMA. For MMA polymerization using diastereospecific metallocene pairs, rac-4/5 and rac-4/6, the isospecific catalyst site dominates the polymerization events under the conditions employed in this study, and the aspecific and syndiospecific sites are largely nonproductive, thereby forming only highly isotactic PMMA.     

Liquid phase bromination of aromatics over zeolite H-beta catalyst

The liquid phase bromination of chlorobenzene, toluene and xylenes (o-, m-, p-) is catalyzed using zeolite as catalyst and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) as the brominating agent. In addition, the bromination of toluene has been investigated over various zeolites using both NBS and liquid Br₂ as brominating agents. A comparison under similar reaction conditions with H₂SO₄, in the absence of catalyst and FeCl₃ (in the case of toluene) is also investigated for each reaction. Zeolite H-beta is found to be selective compared to the conventional catalysts and other zeolites in the bromination of chlorobenzene and toluene whereas selectivity for 4-bromo-o-xylene (4-BOX/3-BOX) over H-beta and H₂SO₄ was found nearly comparable in the bromination of o-xylene. In the bromination of toluene, acidic H-beta favours the formation of nuclear products whereas in the absence of any catalyst, in the presence of weakly acidic H–Y and potassium exchanged zeolites K-beta and K–L, the concentration of side-chain product, œ-bromotoluene, is enhanced. The conversion of NBS, rate of NBS conversion (mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and selectivity for products are strongly influenced by the reaction parameters. As the reaction time, catalyst amount, reaction temperature and molar ratios of NBS/toluene are increased, an increase in the conversion of NBS is noticed. Presumably, the catalytic bromination of aromatics proceeds by an electrophile (Br⁺) which is generated by the heterolytic cleavage of NBS/Br₂ by an acidic zeolite. Thus, the generated Br⁺ attacks the aromatic ring resulting in the formation of brominated nuclear products.     

Sequential synthesis of multiblock copolymers by atom transfer radical and cationic polymerization

ABCBA‐type pentablock copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (S), and isobutylene (IB) were prepared by a three‐step synthesis, which included atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and cationic polymerization: (1) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with terminal chlorine atoms was prepared by ATRP initiated with an aromatic difunctional initiator bearing two trichloromethyl groups under CuCl/2,2′‐bipyridine catalysis; (2) PMMA with the same catalyst was used for ATRP of styrene, which produced a poly(S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S) triblock copolymer; and (3) IB was polymerized cationically in the presence of the aforementioned triblock copolymer and BCl₃, and this produced a poly(IB‐b‐S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S‐b‐IB) pentablock copolymer. The reaction temperature, varied from ?78 to ?25 °C, significantly affected the IB content in the product; the highest was obtained at ?25 °C. The formation of a pentablock copolymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution provided direct evidence of the presence of active chlorine at the ends of the poly(S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S) triblock copolymer, capable of the initiation of the cationic polymerization of IB in the presence of BCl₃. A differential scanning calorimetry trace of the pentablock copolymer (20.1 mol % IB) showed the glass‐transition temperatures of three segregated domains, that is, polyisobutylene (?87.4 °C), polystyrene (95.6 °C), and PMMA (103.7 °C) blocks. One glass‐transition temperature (104.5 °C) was observed for the aforementioned triblock copolymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6098–6108, 2004     

旋光性聚{(+)-甲基丙烯酸-2,5-二[4′-((S)-2-甲基丁氧基)苯基]苄酯}的合成与表征

设计、合成了一个带有横挂三联苯侧基的手性乙烯基单体——(+)-甲基丙烯酸-2,5-二[4′-((S)-2-甲基丁氧基)苯基]苄酯,进行了普通自由基和原子转移自由基聚合反应.所得聚合物具有比单体低30°左右的比旋光度,且在侧基的紫外吸收处呈现明显不同于单体的Cotton效应,说明其主链可能形成了具有相反旋光方向的螺旋构象.在所研究范围内,聚合条件对聚合物的旋光度没有明显的影响.在分子量较小时,聚合物的比旋光度随着分子量的增加而降低,说明主链螺旋构象的贡献在增大,而当分子量达到一定值后,聚合物的比旋光度不再随分子量的增加而显著变化.     

基于多肽和温敏聚合物的光交联囊泡的制备及表征

It is an important challenge to balance the degradability and stability of polymer vesicles. We report a thermo-responsive vesicle based on poly[(N-isopropyl acrylamide-stat-7-(2-methacryloyloxyethoxy)-4-methylcoumarin)-b-(L-glutamic acid)] [P (NIPAM₄₅-stat-CMA₅)-b-PGA₄₂] diblock copolymer, which was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and ring-opening polymerization (ROP). The membrane of the vesicle consists of thermo-responsive PNIPAM and photo-cross-linkable PCMA. The PGA chains in the vesicle coronas can colloidally stabilize the vesicles in water and can be postfunctionalized for further applications. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering studies confirmed the formation of vesicles. Overall, we prepared a new functional thermo-responsive vesicle based on polypeptide copolymers that may be used as nanocarriers for the facile loading of a range of molecules in future.     

Synthesis of a ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization

The functionalization of monomer units in the form of macroinitiators in an orthogonal fashion yields more predictable macromolecular architectures and complex polymers. Therefore, a new ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer, (PMMA)₂–PEO–(PS)₂–PEO–(PMMA)₂ [where PMMA is poly(methyl methacrylate), PEO is poly (ethylene oxide), and PS is polystyrene], has been designed and successfully synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and living anionic polymerization. The synthesis of meso‐2,3‐dibromosuccinic acid acetate/diethylene glycol was used to initiate the polymerization of styrene via ATRP to yield linear (HO)₂–PS₂ with two active hydroxyl groups by living anionic polymerization via diphenylmethylpotassium to initiate the polymerization of ethylene oxide. Afterwards, the synthesized miktoarm‐4 amphiphilic block copolymer, (HO–PEO)₂–PS₂, was esterified with 2,2‐dichloroacetyl chloride to form a macroinitiator that initiated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate via ATRP to prepare the ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer. The polymers were characterized with gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 147–156, 2007     

SYNTHESIS OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)-SILICA NANO-COMPOSITES. II. POLY[METHYL METHACRYLATE-block-(METHYL METHACRYLATE-co-2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE)]

ABSTRACT

One kind of poly(methyl methacrylate [MMA]-block-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate [HEMA]) block copolymer and two kinds of poly[MMA1-block-(MMA-co-HEMA)] block-random copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. Then, poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA]-silica nano composites were synthesized by blending perhydropolysilazane (PHPS: NN-110) and block or block-random copolymers in 1,4-dioxane and casting the blend solutions. All composite films were transparent. Silica and organic domains were microphase separated in the composites. The effects of PHEMA content and blend ratio of PHPS to hydroxyl group on the microphase separation were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal properties of the composites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravitic analysis (TGA).     

ROMP‐NMP‐ATRP combination for the preparation of 3‐miktoarm star terpolymer via click chemistry

A combination of ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and click chemistry approach is first time utilized in the preparation of 3‐miktoarm star terpolymer. The bromide end‐functionality of monotelechelic poly(N‐butyl oxanorbornene imide) (PNBONI‐Br) is first transformed to azide and then reacted with polystyrene‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer with alkyne at the junction point (PS‐b‐PMMA‐alkyne) via click chemistry strategy, producing PS‐PMMA‐PNBONI 3‐miktoarm star terpolymer. PNBONI‐Br was prepared by ROMP of N‐butyl oxanorbornene imide (NBONI) 1 in the presence of (Z)‐but‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diyl bis(2‐bromopropanoate) 2 as terminating agent. PS‐b‐PMMA‐alkyne copolymer was prepared successively via nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMP) of St and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of MMA. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 497–504, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel macromolecular surface modifier for polyethylene

A new macromolecular surface modifier, a copolymer of lauryl methacrylate (LMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl methacrylate (PEGMA), was synthesized through free radical polymerization. The copolymer was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (1H-NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The copolymer was used to blend with polyethylene. The binary blends have been characterized by attenuated total reflection/Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), contact-angle measurements (CDA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that poly(ethylene glycol) methyl methacrylate-co-lauryl methacrylate (PEGMA-co-LMA) could diffuse preferably onto the surface of the polyethylene (PE) film, and thus can be used as an efficient surface modifier for PE.     

耐热性星形甲基丙烯酸甲酯共聚物的合成

195 6年 ,Swarzc等 [1,2 ] 报道了一种没有链转移和链终止的阴离子聚合技术 ,提出了“活性”聚合的概念 . 1 995年王锦山等 [3]发现和提出原子转移自由基聚合 ( ATRP)以来 ,活性自由基聚合就成了高分子合成领域的研究热点 ,并合成出各类指定结构的聚合物 [4～ 12 ] .具有环状结构的 N -环己基马来酰亚胺 ( NCMI)被广泛地用于与甲基丙烯酸甲酯 ( MMA)自由基共聚合制备耐热性有机透明材料 [13,14 ] ,但NCMI的引入将降低聚合物的加工流动性 ,若能利用多官能团引发剂如四溴甲基苯实现含 NCMI单体结构的可控 ATRP共聚合 ,合成出星形耐…     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">block</Emphasis>-poly(tetrahydrofuran) by photo-living radical polymerization using a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl macromediator

The synthesis of a poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PMMA-b-PTHF) diblock copolymer was attained by the photo-living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) supported on the chain end of poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) as the macromediator. The polymerization was performed at room temperature by 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as an initiator in the presence of bis(alkylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate as a photo-acid generator to produce the diblock copolymer consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and PTHF blocks connected through the TEMPO. The polymerization was confirmed to proceed in accordance with a living mechanism based on linear correlations for three different plots of the first order time-conversion, the molecular weight of the copolymer versus the monomer conversion, and the molecular weight versus the reciprocal of the initial concentration of the initiator. The molecular weight distribution of the block copolymer was dependent on the molecular weight of the macromediator based on the miscibility of PMMA and PTHF.     

"一锅法"N-(2-苯甲酰胺苯基)-水杨醛亚胺/TiCl4·2THF催化乙烯聚合

报道了4个含苯甲酰胺取代的水杨醛亚胺配体: N-(2-苯甲酰胺苯基)-水杨醛亚胺(L1)、 N-(2-苯甲酰胺苯基)-3-甲基水杨醛亚胺(L2)、 N-(2-苯甲酰胺苯基)-3-叔丁基水杨醛亚胺(L3)和N-(2-苯甲酰胺苯基)-3,5-二溴水杨醛亚胺(L4)的合成, 采用 ¹H NMR和HRMS对其结构进行了表征. 在助催化剂甲基铝氧烷(MAO)作用下, 以L3与TiCl₄·2THF为模型催化体系, 在最佳陈化条件(陈化温度为25 ℃, 陈化时间为30 min, 配体与TiCl₄·2THF的摩尔比3∶1)下, 考察了L1~L4/TiCl₄·2THF催化体系Al/Ti摩尔比、 反应时间、 反应温度和聚合压力, 以及配体结构等对乙烯聚合的影响. 结果表明, 随着在水杨醛骨架上氧原子邻位取代基位阻的增大, 催化体系的活性及所得聚乙烯的分子量均有增加, 其中以L3的催化活性最高, 达到224 kg PE/(mol Ti?h). 采用高温 ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, GPC-IR和DSC等对由不同配体L1~L4/TiCl₄·2THF得到的聚乙烯样品的微观结构与热性能进行了分析与表征, 结果显示样品为线性高密度聚乙烯, M_n=5.9×10 ⁴~11.9×10 ⁴, 分子量分布(PDI)为21.9~72.1.     

Block Copolymer Networks Composed of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Polyethylene with Triple Shape Memory Properties

In this contribution, we reported a novel synthesis of block copolymer networks composed of poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) and polyethylene(PE) via the co-hydrolysis and condensation of α,ω-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics. First, α,ω-dihydroxylterminated PCL and PE telechelics were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene followed by hydrogenation of polycyclooctene. Both α,ω-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics were obtained via in situ reaction of α,ω-dihydroxyl-terminated PCL and PE telechelics with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane. The formation of networks was evidenced by the solubility and rheological tests. It was found that the block copolymer networks were microphase-separated. The PCL and PE blocks still preserved the crystallinity. Owing to the formation of crosslinked networks, the materials displayed shape memory properties. More importantly, the combination of PCL with PE resulted that the block copolymer networks had the triple shape memory properties, which can be triggered with the melting and crystallization of PCL and PE blocks. The results reported in this work demonstrated that triple shape memory polymers could be prepared via the formation of block copolymer networks.     

Miscibility and crystallinity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) blends

With the objective of developing new biodegradable materials, the miscibility and the crystallinity of blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), P(3HB-co-3HV), have been studied. P(3HB) (300 kg mol⁻¹)/P(3HB-co-3HV)–10% 3HV (340 kg mol⁻¹) blends were prepared by casting in a wide range of proportions, and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The experimental values for the glass transition temperatures (T_g) are in good agreement with the values provided by the Fox equation, showing that the blends are miscible. It was observed that the T_g and the melting temperature (T_m) decreases with the increase in the P(3HB-co-3HV)–10% 3HV content, while the crystallization temperature (T_c) increases. FT-IR analyses confirmed the decrease on the crystallinity of P(3HB)/P(3HB-co-3HV)–10% 3HV blends with higher copolymer contents. Bands related to the crystallinity were changed, due to the copolymer content that produced miscible and less crystalline blends.     

Thermal‐initiating potentialities of vinyl polyperoxides: Transmutation of block‐into‐block copolymer and an exploratory investigation of surface texture and morphology

This article describes the first comprehensive study on the use of vinyl polyperoxides, namely, poly(α‐methyl styrene peroxide) (PMSP) and poly(styrene peroxide) (PSP), as thermal initiators for the synthesis of active polymers, PMSP–PS–PMSP/PSP–PS–PSP, by free‐radical polymerization with styrene. The active polymers have been characterized by ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and gel permeation chromatography analysis. The PMSP–PS–PMSP/PSP–PS–PSP is further used as the thermal macroinitiator for the preparation of another block copolymer, PS‐b‐PMMA, through the reaction of the active polymers with methyl methacrylate. The mechanism of the block copolymer formation is discussed. Having established the scanning micrograph details of the homopolymer phases, we analyze the surface features and morphology of the block copolymer. Furthermore, the distinction in appearance is highlighted with a view toward strengthening the chemistry with the structural appearance in materials processed differently. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3665–3673, 2000     

Synthesis of well-defined polymers with protected silanol groups by atom transfer radical polymerization and their use for the fabrication of polymeric nanoparticles

Copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of a protected silanol group-holding methacrylate, methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MOPS), was investigated. In a dry condition using carefully distilled solvent and monomer, the polymerization proceeded in a living fashion providing a low-polydispersity polymer with a predicted molecular weight. The ATRP in conjunction with the sequential monomer addition of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and MOPS afforded a block copolymer of the type PMMA-b-poly(MMA-r-MOPS). The heat treatment of a solution of the block copolymer in the presence of a catalytic amount of ammonia gave a polymeric core-shell nanoparticle with a shell of PMMA moieties and a core of the poly(MMA-r-MOPS) blocks cross-linked via the condensation of the trimethoxysilane groups of the MOPS moieties.