Theoretical study on the linking process of divinyl compounds with living precursors, 1. Uniform precursor chains

Abstract

AbstractThe theoretical aspect of the linking reaction between divinyl compounds and uniform living precursors has been studied by using the model of threads going through the holes of buttons. The expressions of various molecular parameters of the clusters formed during the linking process, such as the number‐ and the weight‐average molecular weights, the average degree of branching, the branch distribution function, and the molecular weight distribution function, were rigorously derived. The critical condition of gelation is given as well. The theoretical results obtained are appropriate to the core formation process for the core‐first preparation procedure of star‐shaped polymers, and to the arm‐first approach using a uniform living precursor with low or moderate molecular size.