Block polymers of poly( para-xylelene) and polystyrene or poly(vinyl pyridine) prepared by anionic polymerization

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) 1976, Vol.17 (9), p.817-820
• Main Authors: Wong, P.K., Zachariades, A.E., Szwarc, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/0032-3861(76)90037-9

Anionic polymerization of para-xylelene, p-X, may be initiated in solution at a low temperature (∼−70°C) by electron-transfer process. The spontaneous formation of diradicals through dimerization of p-X monomers is too slow at these temperatures to initiate the radical polymerization of p-X. The anionic polymerization yields a living poly( p-xylelene) which is capable of growing further by the addition of vinyl pyridine, VP. In this way block polymers PVP-P p X-PVP were prepared. Alternatively, the addition of p-X monomers to living polystyrene, PS, or living poly(vinyl pyridine), PVP, yields at low temperatures the block polymers P p X-PS-P p X or P p X-PVP-P p X. The block polymers prepared by this approach were isolated and characterized. Even small blocks of P p X attached to polystyrene or poly(vinyl pyridine) make the resulting polymers insoluble in boiling solvents below 200°C.