Synthesis of Block Copolymers with a Pentasilane Core

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 30; no. 11; pp. 948 - 953
• Main Authors: Morisaki, Yasuhiro, Otaka, Hiromichi, Naka, Kensuke, Chujo, Yoshiki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY‐VCH Verlag 02.06.2009
• Subjects: anionic polymerization; block copolymers; living polymerization; micelles; oligosilanes
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.200800788

We report a new method for the synthesis of block copolymers with a pentasilane core by the polymerization of alkyl methacrylate monomers using the pentasilyl dianion as an initiator. The polymerization proceeded with living features and yielded the corresponding block copolymers with controlled molecular weights. The amphiphilic block copolymer was obtained by the polymer reaction, and it formed sphere‐like aggregates in MeOH/H2O solution. A new synthetic method for the formation of amphiphilic block copolymers with a pentasilane core is reported. Oligosilyl anions have been used for ring‐opening anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers; however, no studies have been conducted on the polymerization with oligosilyl dianions. In this study, we successfully synthesized block copolymers with a pentasilane core by the polymerization of alkyl methacrylate monomers using the pentasilyl dianion as an initiator. The obtained clock copolymers form sphere‐like aggregated in a MeOH/H2O solution.