Macromolecules, Vol.40, No.1, 55-64, 2007
Preparation of multiallylic dendronized polymers via anionic polymerization
The anionic polymerization technique was investigated to prepare dendronized polymers (denpols) made of a polystyrene backbone and carbosilane dendrons. The monomers, namely 3,5-bis(3-triallylsilanylpropyloxy)styrene (G1-bis) and 3,4,5-tris(3-triallylsilanylpropyloxy) styrene (G1-tris), are fitted with respectively two or three allyl-terminated carbosilane dendrons of first generation. Polymers with monomodal molecular weight distribution and low polydispersity have been produced. Steric effects brought by the dendrons result in a slow polymerization rate, leading to an apparent saturation of the degree of polymerization. As a matter of fact, polymers of highest molecular weight could only be obtained from the less bulky monomer G1-bis. When the polymerization is complete or drastically reduced by steric factors, an intramolecular transfer reaction is suspected to take place. Finally, the solubility and thermal properties of these multiallylic denpols are discussed.