Monomer Sequencing in Living Anionic Polymerization Using Kinetic Control

Alternating copolymers containing diphenylethylene (DPE) or diphenylethylene derivatives were prepared by living anionic polymerization using kinetic control. Due to steric hindrance DPE cannot homopolymerize. Therefore alternating copolymers can be prepared by ensuring the rate of cross-propagation (k₁₂) of the co-monomer is favoured over the rate of self-propagation (k₁₁). This reactivity ratio (r₁ = k₁₁/k₁₂) can be controlled by many different factors, such as choice of monomer, electron-donating or withdrawing substituents on DPE, choice of solvent, etc. We report our progress on preparing alternating copolymers by varying these factors.