A family of branched and block copolymers consisting of poly(oxyalkvIene) segments was prepared by using 2,4,6-tricliloro-1,3,5-triazine as the amine coupling agent. The copolymers were characterized to have a high molecular weight Of LIP to 22,600 g/mol (Mn) and be thermally stable due to the presence of triazine cores and reactive chloride functionalities. Using the trifunctional poly(oxypropylene)-block amines as the starting material and a two-step coupling process, the prepared copolymers are star-shape or branched, multiple-block copolymers, with a versatile solubility in water or organic solvents. Further variation in amine structures of hydrophobic poly(oxypro- pylene) (POP-) and hydrophific poly(oxyethylene) (POE-) blocks may allow the prepared copolymers to be amphiphitic. As an example, the triazine/POP T-5000/POE ED-2001 copolymer behaves as a surfactant and exhibits the capability of reducing toluene/water interfacial tension until 1.3 mN/m at critical association concentration as low as 0.001 wt %. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals,