Synthesis of methyl methacrylate star-branched polymer with divinylbenzene as a linking agent via controlled/living photopolymerization

HTEMPO-functionalized central cores were formed with divinylbenzene in “core first” method, and the four or five arms star polymers were built via controlled/living free radical photopolymerization. The four arms star polymers were also prepared with controlled/living free radical photopolymerization in “arm first” method. The resulting polymers had been confirmed by GPC and 1H NMR. It showed that the star polymers had low polydispersities and molecular weight (Mn) with the 85,000–560,000 g/mol range.