Synthesis of multiarm star block copolymers via simplified electrochemically mediated ATRP

Star-shaped polymers were received using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as core, and methyl methacrylate (MMA) arms via a simplified electrochemically mediated ATRP (seATRP). To demonstrate the living nature of the seATRP, star multiblock copolymers were successfully prepared by chain extension of the ω-functional PMMA arms with a tert-butyl acrylate (tBA), and respectively, n-butyl acrylate (BA). Novelty of this work is that the β-CD-PMMA-b-PtBA-b-PBA multiarm star block copolymers were synthesized for the first time via seATRP procedure, utilizing 4 × 10−6 mol% of CuII complex. The results from 1H NMR spectral studies support the formation of 21-arm star (co)polymers. Furthermore, the GPC traces of the arms detached from synthesized star-like (co)polymers confirms the absence of star–star coupling reactions during seATRP. It was shown as an advantage over other ATRP methods–low catalyst concentrations and narrow molecular mass distributions, while maintaining well-defined composition.