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Investigation on the alternating and gradient anionic copolymerization of 4-methylenethiochromane (META) and isoprene modified with additives

Polymer Journal volume 52, pages 145–152 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

A sulfur-containing styrene derivative, 4-methylenethiochromane (META), was subjected to anionic copolymerization with isoprene (Ip) modified with different additives. The reactivity of META can be effectively regulated with additives; thus, gradient and alternating copolymers were prepared in a facile manner. When THF and TMEDA were utilized in the copolymerization, the reactivity was better than that observed without additives, and thus, gradient copolymers with different gradient extents can be synthesized. In addition, metal alkoxides (such as sodium 2,3-dimethylpentan-3-olate (NaODP) and potassium tert-butoxide (t-BuOK)) were better able to regulate the reactivity, and the copolymers exhibited alternating and nearly alternating sequences. Therefore, the regulation of the alternating or gradient copolymerization of META and Ip was facilely realized through the use of additives.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21674017, 21871037, and 21805025).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, China

    Hongyuan Bai, Li Han, Hongwei Ma, Lincan Yang, Chao Li, Pibo Liu, Heyu Shen, Lan Lei & Songbo Zhang

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  1. Hongyuan Bai
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Bai, H., Han, L., Ma, H. et al. Investigation on the alternating and gradient anionic copolymerization of 4-methylenethiochromane (META) and isoprene modified with additives. Polym J 52, 145–152 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-019-0273-5

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