Macromolecules, Vol.39, No.2, 528-534, 2006
Star-shaped poly(tetrahydrofuran) with reactive end groups: Design, MALDI-TOF study, and solution behavior
Star-shaped poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) with up to six allyl end groups was prepared by living cationic ring-opening polymerization. A functional initiation system, using allyl alcohol and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, was used, followed by end-capping of the living polymer chains with the multifunctional termination agent tris(2-aminoethyl)amine. In this way, star-shaped PTHF with allyl end groups could be synthesized, with varying molecular weight (6000-20000 g(.)mol(-1)) and number of arms (three to six). Subsequently, the terminal allyl functions were quantitatively transformed into hydroxy groups using a hydroboration procedure. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis, NMR, and size exclusion chromatography confirmed the controlled synthesis of these reactive star-shaped structures. MALDI-TOF was successfully used to determine the absolute molecular weight and purity of star-shaped polymers. They were further characterized by viscosimetry measurements, and their proper-ties were compared to their linear analogues. For the same molecular weight, the stars had a strong reduced viscosity in solution.