Synthesis of end‐functionalized poly(phenylacetylene)s with well‐characterized palladium catalysts

End‐functionalized poly(phenylacetylene)s were synthesized by the polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) using the well‐defined palladium catalysts represented as [(dppf)PdBr(R)] {dppf = 1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene}. The Pd catalysts having a series of R groups such as o‐tolyl, mesityl, C(Ph)?CPh₂, C₆H₄‐o‐CH₂OH, C₆H₄‐p‐CN, and C₆H₄‐p‐NO₂ in conjunction with silver triflate polymerized PA to give end‐functionalized poly(PA)s bearing the corresponding R groups in high yields. The results of IR and NMR spectroscopies and MALDI‐TOF mass analyses proved the introduction of these R groups at one end of each polymer chain. The poly(PA) bearing a hydroxy end group was applied as a macroinitiator to the synthesis of a block copolymer composed of poly(PA) and poly(β‐propiolactone) moieties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Laser‐induced decomposition of 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone and benzoin in methyl methacrylate homopolymerization studied via matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Pulsed laser polymerization (PLP) experiments were performed on the bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at ?34 °C. The aim of this study was to investigate the polymer end groups formed during the photoinitiation process of MMA monomer using 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone (DMPA) and benzoin as initiators via matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry. Analysis of the MALDI‐TOF spectra indicated that the two radical fragments generated upon pulsed laser irradiation show markedly different reactivity toward MMA: whereas the benzoyl fragment—common to both DMPA and benzoin—clearly participates in the initiation process, the acetal and benzyl alcohol fragments cannot be identified as end groups in the polymer. The complexity of the MALDI‐TOF spectrum strongly increased with increasing laser intensity, this effect being more pronounced in the case of benzoin. This indicates that a cleaner initiation process is at work when DMPA is used as the photoinitiator. In addition, the MALDI‐TOF spectra were analyzed to extract the propagation‐rate coefficient, k_p, of MMA at ?34 °C. The obtained value of k_p = 43.8 L mol^?1 s^?1 agrees well with corresponding numbers obtained via size exclusion chromatography (k_p = 40.5 L mol^?1 s^?1). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 675–681, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10150     

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry analysis of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. I. Optimization of measurement conditions for poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) was utilized for the analysis of polymers obtained by the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) with the HCl‐VE adduct/SnCl₄/n‐Bu₄NCl initiating system in CH₂Cl₂ at −78 °C. Under optimized analysis conditions, well‐resolved spectra were obtained for samples with number‐average molecular weights of ≤10⁴ with the use of 1,8‐dihydroxy‐9(10H)‐anthracenone (dithranol) as a matrix and sodium trifluoroacetate as an added salt. The MS spectra showed only one series of peaks separated exactly by the mass of the IBVE. The observed mass of each peak was in good agreement with the theoretical one, which possesses one initiator fragment at the α end and one methoxy group originated from quenching with methanol at the ω end. Thus, detailed end group analysis is possible for poly(VE). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4023–4031, 2000     

Determination of block size in poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene block copolymers by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Characterization of block size in poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(styrene) (PEO‐b‐PS) block copolymers could be achieved by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) after scission of the macromolecules into their constituent blocks. The performed hydrolytic cleavage was demonstrated to specifically occur on the targeted ester function in the junction group, yielding two homopolymers consisting of the constitutive initial blocks. This approach allows the use of well‐established MALDI protocols for a complete copolymer characterization while circumventing difficulties inherent to amphiphilic macromolecule ionization. Although the labile end‐group in PS homopolymer was modified by the MALDI process, PS block size could be determined from MS data since polymer chains were shown to remain intact during ionization. This methodology has been validated for a PEO‐b‐PS sample series, with two PEO of number average molecular weight (M_n) of 2000 and 5000 g mol^?1 and M_n(PS) ranging from 4000 to 21,000 g mol^?1. Weight average molecular weight (M_w), and thus polydispersity index, could also be reached for each segment and were consistent with values obtained by size exclusion chromatography. This approach is particularly valuable in the case of amphiphilic copolymers for which M_n values as determined by liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance might be affected by micelle formation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3380–3390, 2009     

Synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization

Poly(methyl acrylate)s, poly(ethyl acrylate)s, and poly(butyl acrylate)s with α,ω‐di(bromo) chain ends and M_n from 8500 to 35,000 were synthesized by single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). The analysis of their chain ends by a combination of ¹H and 2D‐NMR, GPC, MALDI‐TOF MS, chain end functionalization, chain extension, and halogen exchange experiments demonstrated the synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by SET‐LRP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4684–4695, 2007     

Synthesis of ethylene/propylene elastomers containing a terminal reactive group: The combination of metallocene catalysis and control chain transfer reaction

This article discusses a chemical route to prepare new ethylene/propylene copolymers (EP) containing a terminal reactive group, such as ?‐CH₃ and OH. The chemistry involves metallocene‐mediated ethylene/propylene copolymerization in the presence of a consecutive chain transfer agent—a mixture of hydrogen and styrene derivatives carrying a CH₃ (p‐MS) or a silane‐protected OH (St‐OSi). The major challenge is to find suitable reaction conditions that can simultaneously carry out effective ethylene/propylene copolymerization and incorporation of the styrenic molecule (St‐f) at the polymer chain end, in other words, altering the St‐f incorporation mode from copolymerization to chain transfer. A systematic study was conducted to examine several metallocene catalyst systems and reaction conditions. Both [(C₅Me₄)SiMe₂N(^t‐Bu)]TiCl₂ and rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂, under certain H₂ pressures, were found to be suitable catalyst systems to perform the combined task. A broad range of St‐f terminated EP copolymers (EP‐t‐p‐MS and EP‐t‐St‐OH), with various compositions and molecular weights, have been prepared with polymer molecular weight inversely proportional to the molar ratio of [St‐f]/[monomer]. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1858–1872, 2005     

Fluoropolyethers end‐capped by polar functional groups. I. Kinetic approach to the reaction of hydroxy‐terminated fluoropolyethers with cycloalyphatic and aromatic diisocyanates

Urethane reactions of cycloaliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates with hydroxy‐terminated fluoropolyethers (FPEs) of various molecular weights and structure, at NCO : OH = 2, have been studied by monitoring, by IR analysis, the rate of decrease in NCO absorbance at 2264–2268 cm⁻¹. Different diisocyanates have been tested, among them the following: 4,4′‐dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI); 5‐isocyanato‐1,3,3‐trimethylcyclohexylmethyl isocyanate or isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI); 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Ethyl acetate (EA), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), and hexafluoroxylene (HFX) have been used as solvents in presence of dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) or 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as catalysts. These reactions gave rise to NCO‐end‐capped FPE–oligourethanes. Preliminary solubility tests for HO‐terminated FPEs in various solvents made it possible to select proper candidates for carrying out reaction in homogeneous conditions at high concentrations of reagents (30–50% w/w). The second‐order kinetic mechanism was shown to be valid. Positive deviations from linearity for the second‐order kinetics around 40–80% conversion, found for most of the FPE diols, were attributed to the autocatalysis of the isocyanate–hydroxyl reaction by the arising urethane groups. Uncatalyzed reactions with cycloaliphatic diisocyanates are very slow at 40°C. The tertiary amine DABCO is a much less effective catalyst than DBTDL. FPEs having terminal OH groups separated from the perfluorinated main molecular chain by  (OCH₂CH₂)_n segments (n = 1–2) are generally more reactive than FPEs with end  CH₂OH groups. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 557–570, 1999     

一维双链镉(Ⅱ)配合物[Cd(C5H5N)CH2C(OH)(PO3)(PO3H)·3H2O]n的合成与晶体结构

A new cadmium complex [Cd(C₅H₅N)CH₂C(OH)(PO₃)(PO₃H)·3H₂O]_n((C₅H₄N)CH₂C(OH)(PO₃H₂)₂=1-hydroxy-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene-1,1-diphosphonate acid) has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Single crystal structure determination reveals that the compound has a ladder-like chain structure in which the edge-shared {CdO₆} octahedra are linked by {CPO₃} tetrahedra through corner-sharing. The chains of {Cd(C₅H₅N)CH₂C(OH)(PO₃)(PO₃H)}_n are linked by inter-chain hydrogen bonds, forming a supramolecular layer. CCDC: 722396.     

Poly(ε‐caprolactone) by combined ring‐opening polymerization and azeotropic polycondensation—the role of cyclization and equilibration

Using three different catalysts, water‐initiated polymerizations of ε‐caprolactone were conducted in bulk with variation of the monomer/water ratio. The resulting CH₂OH and CO₂H‐ terminated polylactones were subjected in situ to azeotropic polycondensations. With Bi‐triflate and temperatures, the polycondensations were not much successful and involved side reactions. With ZnCl₂, and especially SnCl₂, considerably higher molar masses were achieved. The substitution of toluene for chlorobenzene for refluxing gave better results. The polycondensations broadened the molar mass distribution of the ROP‐based prepolymers, and polydispersities between 1.4–1.8 were obtained. The MALDI–TOF mass spectra revealed that the polycondensations significantly enhanced the fraction of rings due to efficient “end‐biting” reactions. By comparison with copolymerization experiments and Sn methoxide‐initiated polymerizations, it was demonstrated that equilibration reactions, such as the formation of rings by “back‐biting,” did not occur. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Titanium complexes of dialkanolamine ligands as initiators for living ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone

The titanium complexes with one ( 1a , 1b , 1c ) and two ( 2a , 2b ) dialkanolamine ligands were used as initiators in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone. Titanocanes 1a and 1b initiated living ROP of ε‐caprolactone affording polymers whose number‐average molecular weights (M_n) increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion (M_n ≤ 30,000 g mol^?1) in agreement with calculated values, and were inversely proportional to initiator concentration, while the molecular weight distribution stayed narrow throughout the polymerization (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.2 up to 80% monomer conversion). ¹H‐NMR and MALDI‐TOF‐MS studies of the obtained poly(ε‐caprolactone)s revealed the presence of an isopropoxy group originated from the initiator at the polymer termini, indicating that the polymerization takes place exclusively at the Ti–OⁱPr bond of the catalyst. The higher molecular weight polymers (M_n ≤ 70,000 g mol^?1) with reasonable MWD (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.6) were synthesized by living ROP of ε‐caprolactone using spirobititanocanes ( 2a , 2b ) and titanocane 1c as initiators. The latter catalysts, according MALDI‐TOF‐MS data, afford poly(ε‐caprolactone)s with almost equal content of α,ω‐dihydroxyl‐ and α‐hydroxyl‐ω(carboxylic acid)‐terminated chains arising due to monomer insertion into “Ti–O” bond of dialkanolamine ligand and from initiation via traces of water, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1230–1240, 2010     

MALDI‐TOF MS characterization of dihydroxy telechelic polyisobutylene

MALDI‐TOF MS characterizations of dihydroxy telechelic polyisobutylene is reported. Dichloro telechelic polyisobutylene (Cl—PIB—Cl) was synthesized by means of living cationic polymerization using p‐dicumyl chloride/BCl₃/DMSO initiating systems. The resulting polymer was functionalized by polymer analogous reactions to yield dihydroxy telechelic polyisobutylene (HO—PIB—OH). It was then investigated by MALDI‐TOF MS in the cation mode using 1,8‐dihidroxy‐9(10H)‐anthracenone (dithranol)/CF₃COOAg matrix. The MALDI TOF MS spectra showed an increase in mass by 56 amu units attributed to the isobutylene monomer increment. The endgroups of HO—PIB—OH were determined. A good agreement was also found between the calculated isotope distributions and the isotope distributions determined by means of MALDI.     

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide in the presence of phosphonium catalysts

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide in the presence of potassium alcoholate initiator was accelerated by addition of the bulky phosphonium salt tetrakis[cyclohexyl(methyl)amino]phosphonium‐tetrafluoroborate. Dipropylene glycol (DPG) was partially deprotonated (5%) and used as an initiator for the polymerization performed at 100 °C at normal pressure. The delocalization of the positive charge over five atoms promoted the formation of a separated ion pair, thus enhancing nucleophilicity and reactivity. Compared with those of polyaminophosphazenes and tetrabutylphosphonium cation, the average propagation rates increased in the order of Bu₄P⁺, K⁺, P, P, and ^tBuP₄H⁺. DP_n for the polymers was in the range of 20–64. Characterization of poly(propylene oxide)s by means of ¹H NMR, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) showed low polydispersities (M_w/M_n) without any byproducts or impurities. The M_w/M_n obtained was 1.03–1.09 (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) and 1.11–1.15 (SEC), respectively. Values calculated from titration of the hydroxyl groups showed good agreement. Determination of the total degree of unsaturation in the range of 13–60 mmol/kg indicated larger amounts with increasing polymerization rates. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 864–873, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10163     

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with late transition‐metal halides/organolithium/triisobutylaluminum systems

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated with late transition‐metal halides [manganese chloride (MnCl₂), iron dichloride (FeCl₂), iron trichloride (FeCl₃), cobalt chloride (CoCl₂), or nickel bromide (NiBr₂)]/organolithium [nButyllithium (nBuLi) or phenyllithium (PhLi)]/triisobutylaluminum (iBu₃Al) systems is described. Except for the system with NiBr₂, the polymerizations of MMA afforded narrow molecular weight distribution poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMAs) with high molecular weights in quantitative yields at 0 °C in toluene. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) analyses of the PMMAs obtained by the systems with FeCl₂, FeCl₃, and CoCl₂ revealed that the polymers had hydrogen (H) at both chain ends. Accordingly, the reaction of the transition‐metal halides with the organolithium in the presence of iBu₃Al should result in the formation of transition‐metal hydride [M‐H]^? species, which was nucleophilic enough to initiate the MMA polymerization. Because the presence of a six‐membered cyclic structure resulting from backbiting was confirmed from the MALDI‐TOF MS analyses of the PMMA obtained with the metal halide (FeCl₂, FeCl₃, or CoCl₂)/organolithium systems in the absence of iBu₃Al, the introduction of H at the ω‐chain end indicated that iBu₃Al should prevent the backbiting. However, the MnCl₂/nBuLi/iBu₃Al initiating system gave PMMAs bearing H at the α chain end and six‐membered cyclic structure at the ω chain end. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1962–1977, 2003     

Biodegradable hyperbranched polyesters derived from 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane

Low molar mass hyperbranched polyesters were prepared by polycondensation of 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane and various dimethyl esters of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids in bulk. The usefulness of nontoxic bismuth salts as transesterification catalysts for these polycondensations was studied. The maximum conversion increased, and the reaction time decreased in the following sequence of increasing reactivity: dimethyl sebacate < adipate < glutarate < succinate. Regardless of the monomer combination, gelation occurred at conversions > 91.5%. The hyperbranched structure was proven by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the absence of cyclic elements by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. Quantitative acylation of all CH₂OH groups was achieved with an excess of acetic anhydride or methycrylic anhydride. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 231–238, 2009     

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with molybdenum and tungsten chloride/organolithium/triisobutylaluminum systems

Molybdenum chloride (MoCl₅ or 1a ) and tungsten chloride (WCl₆ or 1b )/phenyllithium (PhLi)/triisobutylaluminum (iBu₃Al) systems were found to be quite effective for controlling the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), affording high molecular weight poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMAs; number‐average molecular weight > 100,000) with narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 1.25) quantitatively at 0 °C for 1 h in toluene. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) analyses of PMMAs obtained with the 1a and 1b /organolithium (RM; n‐butyllithium, PhLi)/iBu₃Al systems revealed that the initiation of MMA with the systems occurred by a nucleophilic attack of H^? to the monomer. In addition, the MALDI‐TOF MS analyses indicated that the presence of iBu₃Al was responsible for the controlled polymerization by improving the uniformity of the polymerization with respect to initiation and termination and by preventing a backbiting reaction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4302–4315, 2002     

Synthesis,characterization, and mechanism studies on novel rare‐earth calixarene complexes initiating ring‐opening polymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate

Rare‐earth (Nd, Y) p‐tert‐butylcalix[n]arene (n = 4, 6, and 8) complexes without coligands were synthesized from rare‐earth isopropoxides in toluene. The products were characterized as the following structures: [C4(OH)O₃ · CH₃C₆H₅]Nd ( 4 ), [C6(OH)₂O₄ · CH₃C₆H₅]₃Ln₄ [Ln = Nd ( 5 ), Y ( 6 )], and [C8(OH)₂O₆ · CH₃C₆H₅]Nd₂ ( 7 ). 2,2‐Dimethyl trimethylene carbonate (DTC) can be polymerized with complexes 4 – 7 alone as the initiator. PolyDTC (weight‐average molecular weight: 5700, polydispersity index: 1.11, measured by gel permeation chromatography) initiated by complex 5 was obtained with a conversion of 69.1% within 6 h in toluene at 80 °C. The thermal behavior of polyDTC has been compared with the published data. The DTC ring is opened via acyl‐oxygen bond cleavage with end‐group examination. NMR analyses of the polymerization reaction mixture indicated that the polymerization proceeds via a coordination‐insertion mechanism. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1390–1399, 2003     

Detection of Radical Adducts with Small Molecular Weights by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization with Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry

As an alternative method, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization with Fourier transform mass spectrometry （MALDI-FTMS） has been successfully used to detect and identify free radical adducts with small molecular weights of hydroxyl and 2-cyano-2-propyl radicals trapped with 5,5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide （DMPO）. The detection and identification by MS/MS experiments using sustained offresonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation （SORI-CID） of [（DMPO＋·OH-·H）＋H^＋] （m/z 130.0868） and [DMPO＋2 ·CH（CH3）2CN＋H^＋] （m/z 250.1917） have demonstrated that MALDI-FTMS could be an effective method for detection and identification of free radical adducts. Other radical adducts have been also detected and identified. The approach of MALDI-FTMS is simple, fast, and sensitive which has potential for high-throughput analysis.     

Positive and negative methanol cluster ions using a direct fast atom bombardment technique

Positive and negative cluster ions in methanol have been examined using a direct fast atom bombardment (FAB) probe technique. Positive ion (CH₃OH)_IIH ⁺ clusters with n = 1-28 have been observed and their clusters are the dominant ions in the low-mass region. Cluster-ion reaction products (CH₃OH)_II(H₂O)H⁺ and (CH₃OH)_II(CH₃OCH₃)H⁺ are observed for a wide range of n and the abundances of these ions decrease with increasing n. The negative ion (CH₃OH)_II(CH₃O)^? clusters are also readily observed with n = 0-24 and these form the most-abundant negative ion series at low n. The (CH₃OH)_II(CH₂O)^?, (CH₃OH)_II(H_IIO)(CH₂O)^? and (CH₃OH)_II(H₂OXCH₃O)^? cluster ions are formed and the abundances of these ions approach those of the (CH₃OH)_II(CH₃O)^? ion series at high n. Cluster-ion structures and energetics have been examined using semi-empirical molecular orbital methods.     

Solvent‐free and nonisocyanate melt transurethane reaction for aliphatic polyurethanes and mechanistic aspects

A novel melt transurethane polycondensation route for polyurethanes under solvent‐free and nonisocyanate condition was developed for soluble and thermally stable aliphatic or aromatic polyurethanes. The new transurethane process was investigated for A + B, A‐A + B, and A‐A + B‐B (A‐urethane and B‐hydroxyl) ‐type condensation reactions, and also monomers bearing primary and secondary urethane or hydroxyl functionalities. The transurethane process was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and molecular weight of the polymers were obtained as M_n = 10–15 × 10³ and M_w = 15–45 × 10³ g/mol. The mechanistic aspects of the melt transurethane process and role of the catalyst were investigated using model reactions, ¹H NMR, and MALDI‐TOF‐MS. The model reactions indicated the occurrence of 97% reaction in the presence of catalyst, whereas its absence gave only less than 2% of the product. The polymer samples were subjected for end‐group analysis using MALDI‐TOF‐MS, which confirms the Ti‐catalyst mediated nonisocyanate pathway in the melt transurethane process. Almost all the polyurethanes were stable up to 280 °C, and the T_g of the polyurethanes can be easily fine‐tuned from ?30 to 120 °C by using appropriate diols in the melt transurethane process. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2445–2458, 2008     

Polymerization and copolymerization of functionalized 2‐alkoxy‐1‐methylenecyclopropanes to form new polymers having alkoxy substituents

The polymers with functionalized alkoxy groups and with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 1.12) are obtained from the living polymerization of 2‐alkoxy‐1‐methylenecyclopropanes using π‐allylpalladium complex, [(PhC₃H₄)Pd(μ‐Cl)]₂, as the initiator. The polymers with oligoethylene glycol groups in the alkoxy substituent are soluble in water, and hydroboration of the C?C double bond and ensuing addition of the OH groups to C?N bond of alkyl isocyanate produce the polymers with urethane pendant groups. The reaction decreases solubility of the polymer in water significantly. Di‐ and triblock copolymers of the 2‐alkoxy‐1‐methylenecyclopropanes are prepared by consecutive addition of the two or three 2‐alkoxy‐1‐methylenecyclopropane monomers to the Pd initiator. The polymers which contain both hydrophobic butoxy or tert‐butoxy group and hydrophilic oligoethylene glycol group dissolve in water and/or organic solvents, depending on the substituents. The ¹H NMR spectrum of poly( 1a ‐b‐ 1h ) (? (CH₂C(?CH₂)CHOBu)_n? (CH₂C(?CH₂)CH(OCH₂CH₂)₃OMe)_m? ) in D₂O solution exhibits peaks because of the butoxy and ?CH₂ hydrogen in decreased intensity, indicating that the polymer forms micelle particles containing the hydrophilic segments in their external parts. Aqueous solution of the polymer with a small amount of DPH (DPH = 1,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐hexatriene) shows the absorbance due to DPH at concentration of the polymer higher than 5.82 × 10^?5 g mL^?1. Other block copolymers such as poly( 1b ‐b‐ 1h ) and poly( 1a ‐b‐ 1g ) also form the micelles that contain DPH in their core. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 959–972, 2009