title: Synthesis of bottlebrush polystyrenes with uniform, alternating, and gradient distributions of brushes via living anionic polymerization and hydrosilylation.
abstract: By combining living anionic polymerization and hydrosilylation, densely grafted bottlebrush polymers with controlled spacing of branch points are prepared. Dimethyl(4-vinylphenyl)silane and dimethyl(4-(1-phenylvinyl)phenyl)silane are anionically (co)polymerized to synthesize uniform, alternating, and gradient in-chain silyl-hydride (Si-H) functionalized backbones. The spacing of branch points is controlled effectively by regulating the distribution of Si-H groups along the backbones. Three backbones with a similar number of Si-H groups but variable distributions are used to synthesize corresponding bottlebrush polymers via hydrosilylation between the backbones and chain-end vinyl functionalized polystyrene. The uniformly grafted bottlebrush exhibits the highest hydrodynamic radius (Rh ) of 5.6 nm and the lowest Tg of 79 °C which may be attributed to its compact grafted structure. This methodology exhibits high efficiency and convenience for the construction of bottlebrushes with controlled distribution of brushes.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qiuyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Pibo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yurong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012821:Silanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012821:Silanes
keywords: bottlebrush polymers; controlled branching; hydrosilylation; living anionic polymerization