Polymerization Initiated by Graphite Intercalation Compounds Revisited: One-Pot Synthesis of Amphiphilic Pentablock Copolymers

This study reports the first attempt to employ a potassium–graphite intercalation compound (KC24) as an initiator for one-pot synthesis of multi-block copolymer. The results obtained show that KC24 successfully initiated copolymerization, leading copolymer consisting poly(styrene), poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(ethylene oxide) blocks. When all three comonomers were introduced simultaneously or in specific sequence, resulting copolymers had molecular masses range between 170,000 Da 280,000 Da. Their composition was investigated by size-exclusion chromatography with triple detection (dRI/UV/IR) 1H-NMR. analyses indicated enriched methyl methacrylate (50–66 mol%) despite fact added equimolar amounts. Due layered structure initiator, polymerization took place graphite interlayer spaces lead extensive delamination, indicating at potential produce situ graphite/copolymer composite materials.