One-step synthesis and characterization of the block-graft terpolymer via simultaneous atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ring-opening polymerization (ROP) techniques

In this study, we evaluated cooccurring ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for simultaneous one-step synthesis of the block-graft terpolymer of ε-caprolactone and methyl methacrylate using polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) macroinitiator. For this purpose, the block-graft terpolymer was synthesized by ROP of a lactone and ATRP of a vinyl monomer using the PECH macroinitiator, which is an initiator suitable for both ROP and ATRP in one step. Spectral and chromatographic analyzes prove that the strategy used is successful in the simultaneous one-step preparation of the block-graft terpolymer with controlled molecular weights and narrow distributions. Graphical abstract PCL- b -(PECH- g -PMMA)- b -PCL block-graft terpolymer was synthesized and evaluated by ATRP of a vinyl monomer and ROP of a lactone using a bifunctional PECH initiator, which allows both ATRP and ROP in one step. This work is an example of a new type of simultaneous one-step reaction, ATRP, and ROP. This can open the door for diverse block-graft terpolymer synthesis, which could potentially lead to great advances in the area of macromolecular chemistry.