| Abstract: | Bifunctional initiators of group transfer polymerization (GTP) were prepared in which two silyl ketene acetal groups are linked by an oligomethylene bridge, either at their C?C double bond or at their alkoxy groups. Their bifunctionality was proven for polymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) prepared with initiators of the latter type in tetrahydrofuran (THF) with tetrabutylammonium cyanide, (C4H9)4NCN, as catalyst. Hydrolysis after complete conversion of monomer yielded chains exhibiting only half of the molecular weight of the original polymer. GTP of MMA with the new initiators in THF with (C4H9)4NCN is “living”, as could be established by the increase of number-average molecular weights after repeated monomer addition, providing the opportunity of production of ABA block copolymers of MMA and acrylates. |
