synthesis of novel styrene-olefin triblock copolymer via living anionic polymerization

Innovative strides in polymer synthesis have led to the successful living anionic polymerization of styrene-olefin triblock copolymers, yielding varying molecular weights and a remarkably narrow dispersity (đ) in cyclohexane solvent at 45°c, initiated by n-butyllithium. the novel approach employs anionic polymerization, augmented by the aid of a coupling agent known as 1,12-dibromododecane. unlike traditional alcohol-based methods employed in polystyrene synthesis, this coupling agent, introduced at the end of the reaction, grafts two living macro-styrene chains with the dodecane chain, effectively acting as the pivotal second component in the formation of the triblock copolymer. extensive experimentation pinpointed 45°c as the optimal temperature for anionic copolymerization in cyclohexane solvent. the comprehensive analysis, encompassing 13c nmr, 1h nmr, ftir spectroscopy, and gpc, confirms the successful synthesis of styrene-dodecane-styrene triblock copolymer. the nmr results illustrate successful molecular structures, while gpc attests to the precision, showing a narrow đ of below 1.2. this pioneering approach not only underscores the efficiency of anionic polymerization in the synthesis of styrene-olefin-styrene triblock copolymer using termination strategy but also promises extensive implications in material science and industrial applications.