Synthesis of Amphiphilic and Double-Hydrophilic Block Copolymers Containing Poly(vinyl amine) Segments by RAFT Polymerization of N-Vinylphthalimide

We report on the controlled synthesis of amphiphilic and double-hydrophilic block copolymers having poly(vinyl amine) segments by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N-vinylphthalimide (NVPI), followed by deprotection. The block copolymer poly(NVPI)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with a controlled molecular weight and low molecular mass distribution was obtained by the polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) using dithiocarbamate-terminated poly(NVPI). The chain extension from the dithiocarbamate-terminated polystyrene to NVPI could be controlled well under suitable conditions, and provided the block copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly(NVPI). We also investigated the thermoresponsive and optoelectronic R properties and the aggregation behavior of double hydrophilic and amphiphilic block copolymers obtained after deprotection.