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Isoprene–Styrene Chain Shuttling Copolymerization Mediated by a Lanthanide Half‐Sandwich Complex and a Lanthanidocene: Straightforward Access to a New Type of Thermoplastic Elastomers
Author(s) -
Valente Andreia,
Stoclet Gregory,
Bonnet Fanny,
Mortreux André,
Visseaux Marc,
Zinck Philippe
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201311057
Subject(s) - isoprene , copolymer , thermoplastic elastomer , styrene , elastomer , materials science , glass transition , microstructure , polymer chemistry , amorphous solid , polymer , thermoplastic , lanthanide , chemical engineering , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , ion , engineering
A lanthanide half‐sandwich complex and a ansa lanthanidocene have been assessed for isoprene–styrene chain shuttling copolymerization with n ‐butylethylmagnesium (BEM). In the presence of 1 equiv BEM, a fully amorphous multiblock microstructure of soft and hard segments is achieved. The microstructure consists of poly(isoprene‐ co ‐styrene) blocks, with hard blocks rich in styrene and soft blocks rich in isoprene. The composition of the blocks and the resulting glass transition temperatures ( T g ) can be easily modified by changing the feed and/or the relative amount of the catalysts, highlighting a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with tunable transition temperatures. The materials self‐organize into nanostructures in the solid state.