An all ATRP route to PMMA–PEO–PS and PMAA–PEO–PS miktoarm ABC star terpolymer

An all Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) route to synthesize miktoarm ABC star terpolymer, μ-(poly(methyl methacrylate)–poly(ethylene oxide)–polystyrene) (μ-(PMMA–PEO–PS)), was demonstrated. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with a halide end group was first prepared by ATRP of MMA. It was then activated under ATRP conditions at 30 °C to add a styrenic-terminated PEO macromonomer, resulting in the formation of PMMA-b-PEO. Finally, the active halide at the junction point of the diblock copolymer was used to initiate the ATRP of St at higher temperature. By a similar approach, μ-(poly(phenyl methacrylate)–poly(ethylene oxide)–polystyrene) (μ-(PhMA–PEO–PS)) was synthesized, hydrolysis of which in basic medium gave μ-(PMAA–PEO–PS). The polymers were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography.