Effect of the supermolecular organization of polymers on the interaction of polystyryl lithium with polymethyl methacrylate

Abstract

Abstract A study was made of the reaction of polystyryl lithium (PS-Li) with the stereocomplex of iso- and syndiopolymethyl methacrylate of varying degrees of stereo-regulation and with each stereo-isomer separately. It was found that the presence of a stereo-complex in toluene or THF results in irregular distribution of chains to be grafted. During the decomposition of the complex while boiling the interaction of PS-Li with its components takes place in the same way as the reaction with radical PMMA both in toluene and in THF (i.e. uniform grafting in THF and irregular, in toluene). The regular distribution of polystyrene chains in reaction with individual highly stereospecific stereo-isomers in toluene and benzene is only maintained while boiling for syndio-PMMA. The information obtained is explained using results about the conformation states of iso- and syndio-PMMA in solution.