Synthesis of multi-arm-star polyglycidols of different architecture grafted with polyacrylate side arms

Well defined linear and 3-, 4-, and 6-arm-star shaped polyglycidols were obtained via anionic ring-opening polymerisation of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether using 3-phenyl-1-propanol, trimethylolpropane, di(trimethylolpropane, and dipentaerythrite as initiator followed by the removal of the acetal protection group via acid catalysed hydrolysis. The microstructure and architecture of the polymers was proven by NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography and MALDI-TOF-MS. Multifunctional initiators for the atom transfer radical polymerisation were obtained by esterification of the hydroxyl groups of the polyglycidols with α-bromoisobutyryl bromide. Kinetic studies of the ATRP of tert-butyl acrylate and methyl acrylate revealed a controlled synthesis of linear and multi-arm-star polyglycidols of different architecture grafted with polyacrylate side arms.

Graphical abstractMulti-arm-star polyglycidols of different architecture grafted with polyacrylate side arms were obtained in a four step synthesis: (i) anionic ring-opening polymerisation of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether; (ii) removal of the acetal protection group via acid catalysed hydrolysis; (iii) esterification of the hydroxyl groups of the polyglycidols with α-bromoisobutyryl bromide; and (iv) atom transfer radical polymerisation of tert-butyl acrylate and methyl acrylate using the multifunctional macroinitiators prepared before.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide