Synthesis,characterization, and hydrolysis of PVAc-PS-PVAc via charge transfer polymerization

An ABA triblock copolymer of polyvinyl acetate-b-polystyrene-b-polyvinyl acetate (PVAc-PS-PVAc) was successfully synthesized with a binary system composed of polystyrene with N,N-dimethylaniline end groups (PS_da) and benzophenone to initiate the polymerization of vinyl acetate under UV irradiation. The PS_da was obtained by capping the living polystyrene macrodianion with p-(dimethylamino) benzaldehyde in excess. The PVA-PS-PVA could then be obtained by hydrolysis of PVAc-PS-PVAc in the sodium ethoxide benzene solution. The intermediates and desirable copolymers were characterized by GPC, IR, and ¹H-NMR in detail. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2595–2600, 1999