Block copolymers by polymer modification: Conversion of polyisoprene segment to hydroxylated polyisoprene

Abstract

AbstractPolyisoprene (PIP) was found to react with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to give an adduct. Saponification of the ester gave a new alternating copolymer of ethylene and α‐methyl vinyl alcohol. TFA did not react with polybutadiene (PBD) under these conditions, thus providing a way to produce amphiphilic block copolymers from PBD‐b‐PIP. TFA addition to the PIP block took place cleanly at an ambient temperature with 2 equiv of the acid in toluene to give block copolymer of PBD and trifluoroacetated PIP. This polymer is very soluble in toluene regardless of molecular weight. Methanolysis with NaOMe cleaved the ester to give PDB‐b‐(ethylene‐alt‐α‐methyl vinyl alcohol) (PIPOH) in a MeOH/toluene mixture. Low molecular weight hydroxylated diblock copolymer is a viscous liquid when the ratio of PIP/PBD is 0.1 ( \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\overline {M_n }$\end{document} = 4100, D = 1.3), but a solid with the ratio 0.5 (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\overline {M_n }$\end{document} = 7170, D = 1.6). High molecular weight polymer (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\overline {M_n }$\end{document} = 114,000, D = 1.4) with PIP/PBD ratio 0.1 is a hazy rubbery material. Block copolymers of PIPOH and poly(methacrylic acid) was also obtained from copolymers of PIP and poly(t‐butyl methacrylate). The hydroxylated copolymers showed surface activity by monolayer formation on a Langmuir–Blodgett trough. The transfer of the monolayer on a silicon wafer gave z‐type deposition, with the average ellipsometer thickness of the layer being about 40 Å thick per monolayer for \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\overline {M_n }$\end{document} = 4100 copolymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.