Preparation and properties of polystyrene-poly(aryl ether-sulfone)-polystyrene ABA triblock copolymers

Controlled molecular weight poly(aryl ether-sulfone) oligomers with amine groups at the chain termini were prepared by the reactions of 4,4′-isopropylidene diphenol, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone and 3-aminophenol in dimethylacetamide. The oligomers were characterized and the terminal amino groups were converted to N,N-diethyldithiocarbamates. These oligomers were used subsequently to initiate controlled radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of UV light to afford ABA triblock copolymers. Model compound studies were undertaken prior to the block copolymer synthesis. The block copolymers were characterized by standard techniques.