Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined [polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)]n star‐block copolymers with poly(2‐vinylpyridine) corona blocks

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of [polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)]_n star‐block copolymers with the poly(2‐vinylpyridine) blocks at the periphery. A two‐step living anionic polymerization method was used. Firstly, oligo(styryl)lithium grafted poly(divinylbenzene) cores were used as multifunctional initiators to initiate living anionic polymerization of styrene in benzene at room temperature. Secondly, vinylpyridine was polymerized at the periphery of these living (polystyrene)_n stars in tetrahydrofuran at ?78 °C. The resulting copolymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography, multiangle laser light scattering, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, and intrinsic viscosity measurements. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3949–3955, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of pH sensitive poly(glycidol)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) block copolymers

Block copolymers of poly(glycidol)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) were obtained by ATRP of 4‐vinylpyridine initiated by ω‐(2‐chloropropionyl) poly(glycidol) macroinitiators. By changing the monomer/macroinitiator ratio in the synthesis polymers with varied P4VP/PGl molar ratio were obtained. The obtained block copolymers showed pH sensitive solubility. It was found that the linkage of a hydrophilic poly(glycidol) block to a P4VP influenced the pK_a value of P4VP. DLS measurements showed the formation of fully collapsed aggregates exceeding pH 4.7. Above this pH values the collapsed P4VP core of the aggregates was stabilized by a surrounding hydrophilic poly(glycidol) corona. The size of the aggregates depended significantly upon the composition of the block copolymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1782–1794, 2009     

Synthesis of well‐defined pH‐responsive PPEGMEA‐g‐P2VP double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate) (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) side chains were synthesized by successive single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained homopolymer then reacted with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐chloropropionyl chloride at ?78 °C to afford PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator. poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) double hydrophilic graft copolymers were finally synthesized by. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine initiated by PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalytic system via the grafting‐ from strategy. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept relatively narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.40). pH‐Responsive micellization behavior was investigated by ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy and this kind of double hydrophilic graft copolymer aggregated to form micelles with P2VP‐core while pH of the aqueous solution was above 5.0. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of arborescent polystyrene‐g‐[poly(2‐vinylpyridine)‐b‐polystyrene] core–shell–corona copolymers

Arborescent copolymers with a core‐shell‐corona (CSC) architecture, incorporating a polystyrene (PS) core, an inner shell of poly(2‐vinylpyridine), P2VP, and a corona of PS chains, were obtained by anionic polymerization and grafting. Living PS‐b‐P2VP‐Li block copolymers serving as side chains were obtained by capping polystyryllithium with 1,1‐diphenylethylene before adding 2‐vinylpyridine. A linear or arborescent (generation G0 – G3) PS substrate, randomly functionalized with acetyl or chloromethyl coupling sites, was then added to the PS‐b‐P2VP‐Li solution for the grafting reaction. The grafting yield and the coupling efficiency observed in the synthesis of the arborescent PS‐g‐(P2VP‐b‐PS) copolymers were much lower than for analogous coupling reactions previously used to synthesize arborescent PS homopolymers and PS‐g‐P2VP copolymers from the same types of coupling sites. It was determined from static and dynamic light scattering analysis that PS‐b‐P2VP formed aggregates in THF, the solvent used for the synthesis. This presumably hindered coupling of the macroanions with the substrate, and explains the low grafting yield and coupling efficiency observed in these reactions. Purification of the crude products was also problematic due to the amphipolar character of the CSC copolymers and the block copolymer contaminant. A new fractionation method by cloud‐point centrifugation was developed to purify copolymers of generations G1 and above. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1075–1085     

Controlled free‐radical polymerization of 2‐vinylpyridine in the presence of nitroxides

Bulk free‐radical polymerization of 2‐vinylpyridine (2VP) in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO) was studied under different conditions (temperature and presence of additives). Linear poly‐(2‐vinylpyridine) with a narrow molecular weight distribution and controllable molecular weight was prepared in the presence of acetic anhydride at 95 °C up to a conversion of 66%. At higher conversions side reactions became very important (pseudoliving polymerization). By applying this procedure, well‐defined random copolymers of 2VP with styrene or tert‐butylmethacrylate as well as block copolymers of 2VP with styrene were synthesized. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2889–2895, 2001     

Synthesis of well‐defined PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐P2VP) double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential SET‐LRP and ATRP and its “schizophrenic” Micellization behavior in aqueous media

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers, consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ethyl acrylate) backbone and poly(2‐vinylpyridine) side chains, were synthesized by successive single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was prepared by sequential SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate at 25 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as the catalytic system. The obtained diblock copolymer was transformed into the macroinitiator by reacting with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride. Next, grafting‐from strategy was used for the synthesis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐[poly(ethyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)] double hydrophilic graft copolymer. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine was initiated by the macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as the catalytic system. The synthesis of both the backbone and the side chains are controllable. Thermo‐ and pH‐responsive schizophrenic micellization behaviors were investigated by ¹H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Unimolecular micelles with PNIPAM‐core formed in acidic environment (pH = 2) with elevated temperature (T ≥ 32 °C), whereas the aggregates turned into spheres with PEA‐g‐P2VP‐core accompanied with the lifting of pH values (pH ≥ 5.3) at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 15–23, 2010     

Synthesis of a novel block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) by combination of anionic ring‐opening and controllable free‐radical polymerization

The block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) was synthesized by a combination of living anionic ring‐opening polymerization and a controllable radical mechanism. The poly(ethylene oxide) prepolymer with the 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy end group (PEO_T) was first obtained by anionic ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide with sodium 4‐oxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy as the initiator in a homogeneous process. In the polymerization UV and electron spin resonance spectroscopy determined the 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy moiety was left intact. The copolymers were then obtained by radical polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine in the presence of PEO_T. The polymerization showed a controllable radical mechanism. The desired block copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, and NMR spectroscopy in detail. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4404–4409, 2002     

Block copolymer containing poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Synthesis and its interaction with CdSe quantum dots for hybrid organic applications

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer was synthesized by RAFT polymerization of 4‐vinyl pyridine using a trithiocarbonate‐terminated poly(3‐hexylthiophene) macro‐RAFT agent. The optoelectronic properties and the morphology of the block copolymer blends with CdSe quantum dots were investigated. UV‐vis and fluorescence experiments were performed to prove the charge transfer between CdSe and poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Multiblock poly(4‐vinylpyridine) and its copolymer prepared with cyclic trithiocarbonate as a reversible addition–fragmentation transfer agent

The polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine was conducted in the presence of a cyclic trithiocarbonate (4,7‐diphenyl‐[1,3]dithiepane‐2‐thione) as a reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization agent, and a multiblock polymer with narrow‐polydispersity blocks was prepared. Two kinds of multiblock copolymers of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine, that is, (ABA)_n multi‐triblock copolymers with polystyrene or poly(4‐vinylpyridine) as the outer blocks, were prepared with multiblock polystyrene or poly(4‐vinylpyridine) as a macro‐RAFT agent, respectively. GPC data for the original polymers and polymers cleaved by amine demonstrated the successful synthesis of amphiphilic multiblock copolymers of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine via two‐step polymerization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2617–2623, 2007     

Self‐Assembly of Poly(vinylpyridine‐b‐oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) Diblock Copolymers

Poly(oligoethylene glycol)‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) is a model diblock for studying the effect of block‐localized charge on block copolymer self‐assembly because in the absence of charge the polymers are perfectly miscible, and upon protonation of the vinylpyridine block the polymer undergoes an order–disorder transition. Seven model block copolymers with molecular weights of approximately 60 kDa containing poly(2‐vinylpyridine) volume fractions spanning 0.069–0.700 were synthesized using reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization and then studied to understand the effect of protonation level, diblock composition, and temperature on the location of the ordering transition and the type of nanostructures formed in a charge asymmetric system. All of the polymers displayed lower critical solution‐type behavior, with the order–disorder transition temperature decreasing with increasing acid content. Polymers with symmetric compositions showed the highest degree of incompatibility for a given degree of protonation, and the observed morphologies for all polymers were consistent with those observed at similar compositions for classical hydrophobic block copolymers. The observed protonation‐induced phase transition can be explained by the shift of the Flory–Huggins parameter due to the alternation of the identity of monomers, consistent with the prediction of Nakamura and Wang's theory. The use of polyvalent ions promotes self‐assembly at lower concentrations, consistent with ionic crosslinking effects between polymer chains that are promoted at high concentration due to exchange entropy in crosslinked polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1181–1190     

Surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes via nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization

The nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization of styrene was carried out on the surfaces of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) initiated by an MWNT‐supported initiator multiwalled carbon nanotube–2″,2″,6″,6″‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxy (MWNT–Tempo). The content of polystyrene grafted from the surface was controlled by changes in the polymerization conditions, such as the reaction times or the ratios of monomers to initiators. The obtained polystyrene‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT–PSs) were further used to initiate the polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine to get polystyrene‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine)‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT–PS‐b‐P4VPs). In contrast to unmodified MWNTs, MWNT–PSs had relatively good dispersibility in various organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, CHCL₃, and o‐dichlorobenzene. The structures and properties of MWNT–PSs and MWNT–PS‐b‐P4VPs were characterized and studied with several methods, including thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible, and transmission electron microscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4656–4667, 2006     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal properties of dendrimer‐star,block‐comb copolymers by ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

Novel and well‐defined dendrimer‐star, block‐comb polymers were successfully achieved by the combination of living ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization on the basis of a dendrimer polyester. Star‐shaped dendrimer poly(?‐caprolactone)s were synthesized by the bulk polymerization of ?‐caprolactone with a dendrimer initiator and tin 2‐ethylhexanoate as a catalyst. The molecular weights of the dendrimer poly(?‐caprolactone)s increased linearly with an increase in the monomer. The dendrimer poly(?‐caprolactone)s were converted into macroinitiators via esterification with 2‐bromopropionyl bromide. The star‐block copolymer dendrimer poly(?‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was obtained by the atom transfer radical polymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The molecular weights of these copolymers were adjusted by the variation of the monomer conversion. Then, dendrimer‐star, block‐comb copolymers were prepared with poly(L ‐lactide) blocks grafted from poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) blocks by the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. The unique and well‐defined structure of these copolymers presented thermal properties that were different from those of linear poly(?‐caprolactone). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6575–6586, 2006     

pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive statistical copolymers poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐stat‐2‐vinylpyridine] with Functional succinimidyl‐ester chain ends synthesized by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization

Statistical copolymerizations of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with 2‐vinylpyridine (2VP) with 80 to 99 mol % DMAEMA in the feed utilizing a succinimidyl ester‐terminated alkoxyamine unimolecular initiator (NHS‐BlocBuilder) at 80 °C in bulk were performed. The effectiveness of 2VP as a controlling comonomer is demonstrated by linear increases in number‐average molecular weight versus conversion, relatively low PDI (1.5–1.6 with up to 98% DMAEMA) and successful chain extensions with 2VP. Additional free nitroxide does not significantly improve control for the DMAEMA/2VP copolymerizations. The succinimidyl ester on the initiator permits coupling to amine‐terminated poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), yielding an effective macroinitiator for synthesizing a doubly thermo‐responsive block copolymer of PPG‐block‐P(DMAEMA/2VP). A detailed study of the thermo‐ and pH‐sensitivities of the statistical and block copolymers is also presented. The cloud point temperature of the statistical copolymers is fine tuned from 14 to 75 °C by varying polymer composition and pH. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012.     

Graftlike interpolymer complexes from poly(2‐vinylpyridine) and end‐sulfonic acid polystyrene and polyisoprene: Intermediates to noncovalently bonded block copolymer‐like micelles

The complexation between narrow molecular weight distribution poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and polystyrene (suPS) or polyisoprene (suPI) end‐functionalized with one sulfonic acid group was examined in tetrahydrofuran dilute solutions by a combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering. Both apparent weight‐average molecular weight (M_w,app) and hydrodynamic radius (R_h) of the complexes exhibited a maximum at a certain molar ratio of suPS chains to P2VP monomeric units. This indicated that the P2VP backbone may be saturated by the grafted end‐functionalized chains because of repulsion between the grafted chains. By changing the molar mass of P2VP from 100,000 to 30,000 g/mol, the values of M_w,app and R_h decreased. When suPI was used instead of suPS, similar trends were observed. In the latter case, it was possible to prepare block copolymer‐like micelles by transferring the P2VP/suPI blend solutions in decane, which is a selective solvent for PI. The non‐covalent‐bonded polymeric micelle characteristics were investigated as a function of sulfonic acid/2‐vinylpyridine units ratio as well as temperature. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2454–2461, 2003     

Self‐assembly in solutions of block and random copolymers during metal nanoparticle formation

The self‐assembly behavior of poly(isoprene‐b‐acrylic acid) and poly(styrene‐b‐2‐vinylpyridine) amphiphilic block copolymers, as well as a poly(styrene‐r‐2‐vinylpyridine) amphiphilic random copolymer was investigated in slightly selective organic solvents (tetrahydrofuran and toluene) in the presence of Ag and Au ions and subsequently Ag, Au metal nanoparticles, by means of dynamic light scattering. In the range of concentrations studied the copolymers exist in the form of micelles with cores composed of acrylic acid and 2‐vinylpyridine segments in equilibrium with unimers. The addition of metal ions and their subsequent transformation to metal nanoparticles shifts the equilibrium in favor of the micelles. The concentration of the inorganic components has also a considerable effect on the size of the polymeric aggregates. A similar behavior is observed for the random copolymer. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), UV‐visible spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) give valuable additional information on the nature of the interactions between the polymeric and inorganic components, as well as on the characteristics of the metal nanoparticles and the hybrid micelles formed in each case. The presented results have a direct relation to the synthesis of metal nanoparticles under confinement by utilization of copolymer nanoreactors and appropriate solution conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1515–1524, 2008     

End‐grafting copolymers of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine on an interacting solid surface

Copolymers of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine with a styrene fraction f varying from 1 to 0 were grafted onto a silicon substrate in the melt. The grafting reaction and the stability of the grafted chains were investigated by Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The thickness and surface morphology of the grafted copolymer layers were characterized with ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The copolymer chains were successfully grafted to the surface of the silicon substrate by a reaction between the hydroxyl groups of the nitroxide moiety at the end of the copolymers and the silanol groups on the surface of the silicon wafer. A measurement of the thickness of the grafted copolymer layers showed that the ratio of grafted‐layer thickness to the unperturbed chain radius of gyration decreased with the increasing fraction of 4‐vinylpyridine in the copolymer; this indicated that the grafted layer was strongly attracted to the substrate. In addition, an accelerated grafting process was observed at grafting times ranging from 48 to 72 h for pure poly(4‐vinylpyridine) and copolymers with f values of 0.3 and 0.5. AFM observation revealed that the grafted layers densely and homogeneously covered the silicon substrate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1332‐1343, 2005     

Synthesis of poly(n‐hexyl isocyanate‐b‐N‐vinylpyrrolidone) block copolymers by the combination of anionic and nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerizations: Micellization properties in aqueous solutions

A combination of anionic and nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerizations (dual initiator) was employed for the synthesis of poly(n‐hexyl isocyanate‐b‐N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PHIC‐b‐PNVP) block copolymers. The samples were characterized with a size exclusion chromatograph equipped with refractive‐index and light scattering detectors as well as ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Relatively good control over the molecular weights was achieved. However, rather broad molecular weight distributions were obtained. The micellar properties of the PHIC‐b‐PNVP block copolymers were studied in water, which is a selective solvent for the poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) blocks. Static and dynamic light scattering revealed the presence of equilibrium between the micelles and clusters. The clusters partially deaggregated with increasing temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5719–5728, 2006     

Raft mediated surface grafting of t‐butyl acrylate onto an ethylene–propylene copolymer initiated by gamma radiation

RAFT mediated grafting of poly(t‐butyl acrylate) onto the surface of a commercial poly(ethylene‐co‐propylene), Elpro, has been carried out using initiation by ⁶⁰Co γ‐radiation at 298 and 273 K. The polymerizations were in bulk monomer and using the RAFT agent 1‐phenylethyl phenyldithioacetate. The rates of homopolymerization and grafting were found to decrease with increasing RAFT agent concentration, indicating that both polymerization processes involve participation of the RAFT agent. There was good agreement between the predicted and experimental molecular weights of the homopolymer that had a narrow polydispersity. The poly(t‐butyl acrylate) grafts were hydrolyzed by trifluoroacetic acid to form poly(acrylic acid) grafts, which could either be further functionalized or used to control the surface polarity of the Elpro. ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy was used to characterize the grafts and Raman spectroscopy was used to assess the depth of the grafts. The water contact angle for the Elpro surface grafted with poly(acrylic acid) was found to be linearly dependent on the amount of the graft present. The living nature of the grafted chains was demonstrated by the addition of a second block of polystyrene. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1074–1083, 2007     

In situ grazing incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering study of solvent vapor annealing in lamellae‐forming block copolymer thin films: Trade‐off of defects in deswelling

Solvent vapor annealing (SVA) is one route to prepare block copolymer (BCP) thin films with long‐range lateral ordering. The lattice defects in the spin‐coated BCP thin film can be effectively and rapidly reduced using SVA. The solvent evaporation after annealing was shown to have a significant impact on the in‐plane ordering of BCP microdomains. However, the effect of solvent evaporation on the out‐of‐plane defects in BCPs has not been considered. Using grazing‐incidence x‐ray scattering, the morphology evolution of lamellae‐forming poly(2‐vinlypyridine)‐b‐polystyrene‐b‐poly(2vinylpyridine) triblock copolymers, having lamellar microdomains oriented normal to substrate surface during SVA, was studied in this work. A micelle to lamellae transformation was observed during solvent uptake. The influence of solvent swelling ratio and solvent removal rate on both the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane defect density was studied. It shows that there is a trade‐off between the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane defect densities during solvent evaporation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 980–989     

Synthesis and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of starch‐g‐poly(1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) copolymers

A new biodegradable starch graft copolymer, starch‐g‐poly(1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one), was synthesized through the ring‐opening graft polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one onto a starch backbone. The grafting reactions were conducted with various 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one/starch feed ratios to obtain starch‐g‐poly(1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) copolymers with various poly(1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) graft structures. The microstructure of starch‐g‐poly(1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) was characterized in detail with one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The effect of the feed composition on the resulting microstructure of starch‐g‐poly(1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) was investigated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3417–3422, 2004