Synthesis and self-assembly study of two-armed polymers containing crown ether core

Two functional crown ether initiator, bis[4′-(2-bromobutyryl)]dibenzo-18-crown-6 (BBDC) was synthesized through the condensation of dibenzo-18-crown-6 with 2-bromobutyric acid in the presence of polyphosphoric acid. Atom transfer radical polymerizations of styrene (St), methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate were carried out in bulk to produce the polymers with well-controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (1.12–1.32). Based on 1H NMR results, both the two bromides of BBDC initiated the polymerizations. The well-defined two-armed polymers were self-assemblized in the presence of potassium cations. Their morphologies of the film obtained were studied by atomic force microscopy with tapping mode.