| Abstract: | The synthesis of ABA triblock copolymers is described, in which the A blocks are poly(benzyl ether) dendrons and the B block is polycyclooctene or polyethylene. Bis‐dendritic cis‐olefins were synthesized and used as chain transfer agents in ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene in a process that inserts the dendrons at the polymer chain‐ends. Evaluation of the polymer products by spectroscopic, chromatographic, and titration methods supports their triblock structure. Hydrogenation of the unsaturated polycyclooctene B‐block of these ABA triblock copolymers provides the first reported synthesis of bisdendritic polyethylene. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5429–5439, 2005 |
