Synthesis and characterization of alkoxy derivatives with double-headed initiators for the preparation of poly(ε-caprolactone)-β-polyacrylonitrile (PCL-β-PAN) and poly(l-lactide)-β-polyacrylonitrile (PLLA-β-PAN) copolymers

The synthesis of simple single source molecular precursor based on metal alkoxides of the type,[(MMPEP)Al(μ-OBnCH2Cl)]2 (1),[(MMPEP-H)Li·(BnOH)]2 (2) and[(MMPEP-H)Li·(HOB-nCH2Cl)]2 (3) has been reported herein. Complex 1 was prepared by the reaction of[(MMPEP)Al(CH3)(Et2O)] with p-(chloromethyl)benzyl alcohol. The reaction of 2,2′-methylene-bis(4,6-di(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenol) (MMPEP-H2) with nBuLi, BnOH or p-(chloromethyl)benzyl alcohol was added to give complexes 2 and 3, respectively. Among them, only complex 1 shows excellent catalytic properties towards ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone. However, complexes 2 and 3 are active for ROP of l-lactide only. Block copolymers of poly(ε-caprolactone)-β-polyacrylonitrile and poly(l-lactide)-β-polyacrylonitrile were synthesized by using a technique known as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and the ring opening polymerization (ROP). TEM micrograph of PCL-β-PAN shows the microphase property with the help of self-assembly.