Synthesis of Elastomeric Block and Graft Polymers by Anionic Polymerization

Abstract

Under carefully controlled conditions, anionic polymerization systems may be initiated having, as a special feature, no spontaneous termination step. Using alkyllithium compounds, it is possible to make precisely tailored block polymers. For example, an elastomeric polymer can be synthesized by coupling the diblock of poly-4-vinylbiphenyl and polyisoprene with phosgene. Also in anionic systems, the linking of preformed chains onto a polymer backbone is one potential route to the preparation of elastomeric graft polymers.