One-Shot synthesis of heterografted brush copolymers through orthogonal Ring-Opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

Abstract

• One-shot heterografted brush copolymers synthesis based on simultaneously orthogonal ring-opeing polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). • The dule role of DBU as the catalyst of ROP and the ligand of ATRP. • Brush copolymers with biodegradable polycarbonates or polyesters and poly(meth)acrylates or polystyrenes heterografts. • The self-assemble of the amphiphilic brush copolymer prepared with the one-shot method. The characteristics of brush copolymers enable them applicable materials in catalysis, pharmaceutical and compatibilizer, and the scope of the application could be greatly expanded through the regulating of grafted branches. In this manuscript, the one-shot orthogonal preparation of heterografted brush copolymers has been achieved successfully with 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene (DBU) as the catalyst of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and ligand of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), avoiding the tedious purification processes in the two-step procedure for the synthesis of heterografted brush copolymers. Well-defined brush copolymers with various contents of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and poly( tert -butyl methacrylate) (P t BMA) graftings have been successfully prepared and the range of this method was further evaluated with a variety of cyclic and vinyl monomers in one-shot. Amphiphilic brush copolymer has also been successfully prepared allowing for the formation of micelles in water through self-assembling.