title: Ultra-Fast RAFT-HDA Click Conjugation: An Efficient Route to High Molecular Weight Block Copolymers.
abstract: The use of the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer-hetero Diels-Alder (RAFT-HDA) click reaction for the modular construction of block copolymers is extended to the generation of high molecular weight materials. Cyclopentadienyl end-functionalized polystyrene (PS-Cp) prepared via both atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and the RAFT process are conjugated to poly(isobornyl acrylate) (PiBoA) (also prepared via RAFT polymerization) to achieve well-defined block copolymers with molecular weights ranging from 34 000 to over 100 000 g · mol(-1) and with small polydispersities (PDI < 1.2). The conjugation reactions proceeded in a very rapid fashion (less than 10 min in the majority of cases) under ambient conditions of temperature and atmosphere. The present study demonstrates-for the first time-that RAFT-HDA click chemistry can provide access to high molecular weight block copolymers in a simple and straight-forward fashion.
authors.affiliation: Preparative Macromolecular Chemistry, Institut für Technische Chemie und Polymerchemie, Universität Karlsruhe (TH)/Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstraße 18, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: Martina H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stenzel
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barner-Kowollik