Synthesis of C 60 ‐capped vinyl ether oligomers by living cationic polymerization technique

This study concerns the synthesis of C 60 ‐capped vinyl ether (VE) oligomers with well‐defined structure by living cationic polymerization technique. The VE oligomers bearing C 60 at the chain end were prepared by addition reaction between monoocynylfulleride anions and living cationic VE oligomers. Living oligo(isobutyl vinyl ether) (IBVE) and oligo(methyl vinyl ether) (MVE) were synthesized using CH 3 CH(OiBu)Cl/ZnI 2 as initiating system. The C 60 ‐capped VE oligomers were obtained as dark brown gummy solid in 28% for IBVE and 34% for MVE. The UV/VIS and 13 C NMR spectra indicated the formation of C 60 ‐capped oligomers via 1,2‐addition reaction. It was also found that the films of blends of C 60 ‐capped oligomers with poly(IBVE) and polystyrene (5 wt.‐% C 60 ) are homogeneous on a micron scale and transparent, resulting from a good dispersion of C 60 in the polymer matrix.