A Facile Procedure for Controlling Monomer Sequence Distribution in Radical Chain Polymerizations

A novel sequential copolymerization strategy was investigated for preparing macromolecules with programmed sequences of functional comonomers. Four different N -substituted maleimides ( N -propyl maleimide, N -benzyl maleimide, N -methyl maleimide, and N -[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] maleimide) were consecutively added during the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene performed at 110 °C in the presence of a catalyst composed of copper(I) bromide and 4,4‘-dinonyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine. Owing to the exceptional cross-propagation of N -substituted maleimides with styrene, the four functional comonomers could be sequentially incorporated in the growing polymer chains.