Synthesis of an End-Capping Agent for Use in the Co-Block Polymerization of Poly(styrene-b-methacrylonitrile): Designing an Undergraduate Experiment in Polymer Chemistry

Polymer synthesis education at the undergraduate level is essential. Here we report continued developments toward a new undergraduate experiment involving the synthesis of a macroinitiator and its use in the living synthesis of the diblock copolymer poly(styrene-b-methacrylonitrile). The experimental design will require students to use a variety of methods to synthesize a living polymer end-capping agent. This experiment is appropriate for an upper-level laboratory course in advanced organic or polymer chemistry. Students will gain experience in multi-step organic synthesis, product separation and purification, living polymerization, polymer modification, and advanced characterization techniques. Our current data yields the promise of successful reactions that can be reproduced by undergraduate students in the laboratory.