Synthesis and characterization of organic–inorganic hybrid block copolymers containing a fully condensed ladder‐like polyphenylsilsesquioxane

A series of inorganic–organic hybrid block copolymers were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization using a fully condensed, ladder‐like structured polyphenylsilsesquioxane end‐functionalized macroinitiator. The inorganic portion, ladder‐like polyphenylsilsesquioxane, was synthesized in a one‐batch, base‐catalyzed system, whereas organic hard and soft monomers, styrene, and n ‐butyl acrylate, were polymerized and copolymerized on the ends of the linear, inorganic backbone. Synthesized hybrid diblock, triblock, and random copolymers were characterized by 1 H NMR, 29 Si NMR, gel permeation chromatography, static light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Hybrid block copolymers were well‐defined with low polydispersity (<1.4) and exhibited enhanced thermal properties in the form of increased glass transition and degradation onset temperatures over their organic analogues.