Gladys Pozza

Dr Holger Frey

Prof. Dr Wolfgang Weigand

Dr Ulrich S Schubert

Gladys Pozza Laurent

-E Pozza

Hassan Harris

Markus J Barthel

Jürgen Vitz

Pierre J Lutz

Barthel

Sarah Crotty

Felix H Schacher

"Macromonomers as well-defined building blocks in the synthesis of hybrid octafunctional star-shaped poly(ethylene oxide)s"

avoir accueilli. J'ai aussi eu l'occasion durant 3 ans d'être représentante des doctorants et des post-doctorants au sein du conseil de laboratoire, je les remercie pour leur temps consacrés à la lecture des comptes rendus rédigés.

However, I was in Cotutelle with the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany) in the Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry. I would like to thank the both University to allow me the possibility to work in the best conditions during this period (including the availability of the hotels, my presence at conferences, the cities visited (Frankfurt, Berlin, Weimar, Erfurt, Dresden …)).

I continue with the German colleagues, Dr. Markus J. BARTHEL and Dr. Jürgen VITZ.

They participated to the reaction process (impossible for me to open the tap of EO, it was too high…) and also the preparation of product but not only. Markuuuus, I called him like this, you are very nice with me and I hope you don't forget the "Macarons au chocolat" prepared for you (yes, my macarons travel also!). Jürgen, I thank you for all the preparation when I arrived to Jena, I have just the time for the polymerization (not for the distillation) and in the most case, everything were ready for my reactions. I liked French discussions between us (ça m'a pas aidé pour améliorer mon anglais …) and thank for the help with the administrative documents! I would like to thank also the "Jena team" for the warm welcome and the help during this thesis. Thank you for the secretary, Anja HELBIG, Tanja WAGNER, Sylvia BRAUNSDORF, and Simone BURCHARDT for the train ticket, hotel, administrative documents and their kindness and availability.

Faire des réactions c'est bien mais les caractériser c'est mieux ! J'aimerai donc remercier maintenant toutes les personnes qui ont contribué plus ou moins à la caractérisation de mes échantillons :

A Jena, Sarah pour les Maldi, qui a fait du mieux qu'elle pouvait pour essayer de voir mes étoiles (avec plus ou moins de difficulté) ainsi que pour tous les POEs linéaires et les PIs (chaque passage à Jena = échantillon à analyser) et aussi Markus pour les SEC après polymérisations.

A Strasbourg, la liste est plus longue, je vais essayer d'oublier personne : tout d'abord le service de SEC, Dr. Mélanie LEGROS, Catherine FOUSSAT (pour la viscosimétrie des POEs linéaires), Julie QUILLE (pour les diffusions de la lumières des linéaire et des étoiles de POE), Odile GAVAT (pour les dn/dc des POEs linéaires) pour les SEC en petite masse des POEs mais aussi les autres, PS et PI en grande masse, ainsi que pour les différents petits tests. Je les remercie aussi pour la rapidité des résultats (en dépit de certaines filles d'attente), j'ai toujours eu mes résultats à temps et aussi pour les discussions des résultats qui s'avèrent très utiles. Par contre, votre témoin des colonnes en petites masses ne sera plus là… Je remercie aussi Dr. Dominique SARAZIN pour l'appareil à diffusion de la lumière statique et la feuille de calcul Exel pour obtenir un résultat mais aussi pour l'appareil de dn/dc ainsi que M. Une partie conséquente de ce premier chapitre sera consacrée à une discussion approfondie sur la synthèse de macromonomères de POE. Les deux principales approches de synthèse permettant d'accéder à des macromonomères de POE seront discutées dans une deuxième partie du premier chapitre. L'insaturation peut être introduite soit au cours de

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza l'amorçage, soit lors de la désactivation induite des sites actifs à l'aide d'un composé électrophile insaturé.

Les macromonomères constituent en effet de précieux intermédiaires pour la synthèse de copolymères greffés ou de copolymères à structure en peigne bien définis. Ils peuvent aussi bien se prêter, comme on le verra dans notre travail, à la synthèse de copolymères à blocs, de polymères à structure en étoile, voire de réseaux macromoléculaires. Les POEs décorés d'insaturations en extrémité de chaîne sont de plus en plus utilisés dans des réactions de post-polymérisation, par exemple, par thiol-ène « click » réaction pour introduire des composés bioactifs (unités de sucre).

Les POEs ramifiés représentent une autre classe de composés à base de POE auxquels de nombreux travaux ont été consacrés aux cours des années. Des polymères ramifiés à base de POE très divers ont été synthétisés et étudiés : polymères à structure en étoile, en peigne, hyperramifiés ou à structure dendritique. La synthèse de ces POEs ramifiés est dictée non seulement par l'intérêt pour l'élaboration d'architectures macromoléculaires bien définies ou par le désir de disposer de modèles pour des études physico-chimiques, mais aussi par leur utilisation particulièrement dans le domaine des applications biomédicales. Les architectures à structure en étoile à base de POE peuvent être préparées, soit en faisant appel à des amorceurs multifonctionnels, soit par réaction des extrémités de chaîne de POE monofonctionnels avec des composés multifonctionnels dotés de fonctions antagonistes. Ce Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

POE -méthoxy--allyle

Pour réaliser la synthèse de POE -méthoxy--allyle, j'ai fait appel à la réaction de modification des extrémités de chaîne de POE -méthoxy--hydroxy commerciaux préalablement purifiés. L'addition d'une quantité stoechiométrique de DPMK agissant comme une base forte permet de transformer quantitativement les groupements hydroxyles terminaux en alcoolates. Dans une deuxième étape, l'addition de bromure d'allyle, en léger excès, conduit au macromonomère de POE recherché. Une caractérisation approfondie, des

POEs ainsi obtenus par SEC, par RMN du proton et du carbone, par diffusion de la lumière et par MALDI-ToF MS a permis de déterminer leur masse molaire, de confirmer l'absence de produits de couplages et de démontrer le caractère quantitatif de la fonctionnalisation.

POE-méthoxy--undécènyle

La même approche a été testée pour essayer de doter les extrémités de chaînes de POE mono ou di-OH de groupements undécènes en faisant appel cette fois-ci au 1-bromo- Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

General introduction

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is used in various applications and as building block for the design of complex macromolecular architectures. The attractive properties of PEO can be ascribed to the distance between the alternating oxygen atoms in the chains that is in agreement with the hydrogen distances in liquid water allowing the formation of intensive hydrogen bonding networks with water. PEO is often used in health care applications since it is known to exhibit stealth properties, i.e. it is not recognized by the immune system.

The synthesis of well-defined PEO can be performed via an anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP). This mechanism is preferred (compared to a cationic ring-opening polymerization) since it proceeds without side-reactions if stringent purification methods are applied for the used reagents. The living AROP of ethylene oxide is based on an alcohol in combination with a strong base to create the anionic initiator species. Several heterofunctional initiators were developed to synthesize PEO macromonomers decorated at one or both chain-ends with a polymerizable group.

Another approach has been developed to prepare PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification of already existing (commercial) PEOs. End-group functionalization of PEOs has gained more and more importance to access a large number of water soluble heterofunctional PEOs. PEO macromonomers are accessible by reaction of an alkoxide function, located at one chain-end, with an appropriate unsaturated electrophile.

The living polymerization technique enables the preparation of well-defined macromolecular architectures. The synthesis of such complex architectures containing PEO chains is developed to access amphiphilic graft, comb and star-shaped polymers or copolymers.

These architectures can be prepared using multifunctional initiators for the AROP of ethylene oxide or by reaction of the chain-ends of PEO macromonomers. Several PEO macromonomers have been extensively used to design graft or comb-shaped polymers by free or controlled radical polymerization procedures. PEOs are more and more used in postpolymerization reactions, e.g., the thiol-ene click reaction to introduce bioactive compounds

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

(sugar units, cell-penetrating peptides), for a specific tuning of the polymer or the surface properties of hydrogels and other systems.

Polyisopene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers (PI-b-PEO) are of broad interest for their micellization behavior and their ability to self-organize in selective solvents into a wide variety of micellar aggregates. They are composed of two polymers with different behavior in solution, a hydrophilic PEO sequence and a hydrophobic polyisoprene (PI)

sequence. These copolymers have the ability to self-organize and are used in several applications, such as organic supports for ethylene polymerization or in the synthesis of dendritic polymers. The synthesis of PI-b-PEO can be carried out using two approaches.

Firstly, PIs were prepared by anionic polymerization with an initiator. Living chain-ends were deactivated by addition of EO / acetic acid to introduce hydroxyl functions at the PI chainends. Hydroxyl PI chain-ends were also activated by a base and EO was added for the AROP.

The reaction was deactivated with acetic acid. The second method is based on the addition of tert-butyl phosphazene base (t-BuP 4 ) onto living polyisoprenyllithium chains.

PEO star-shaped polymers are regarded as a particularly promising class of materials since they represent interesting models for physicochemical studies, variable building blocks for hydrogels, or for amphiphilic networks that are of great interest for a wide range of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. They can also serve as surface-modifying agents to improve the biocompatibility of surfaces designed for biomedical applications.

Several approaches based on the living anionic polymerization of EO have been developed to provide access to PEO stars. Hybrid inorganic-organic materials have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Polyhedral oligomeric silesquioxanes (POSS) can be used to create a large variety of hybrid macromolecular architectures. Star-shaped PEOs with POSS cores were established as an emerging class of new materials characterized by enhanced thermal and thermomechanical stability, mechanical toughness, or optical transparency.

The main aim of the thesis will be to take advantage of the anionic polymerization method for accessing linear heterofunctional PEO macromonomers. More complex macromolecular objects will be prepared from these heterofunctional PEOs: Block copolymers, comb and star-shaped polymers.

The first chapter of the thesis is devoted to a general discussion of PEO. A substantial part of this section will focus on the AROP of ethylene oxide and various initiators. The different approaches for accessing heterofunctional PEOs and, more particularly, to PEO macromonomers with polymerizable end-groups at one or both PEO chain-ends will be discussed in a second part. These macromonomers are valuable intermediates for the The last chapter of the thesis will focus on the design of complex hybrid architectures based on PEO. An approach will deal with the design of α-methoxy--undecenyl PEO macromonomers via deactivation in the presence of sodium hydride and In 1931 T. Lefort synthesized EO from ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a silver base catalyst (Scheme 2). 9

Scheme 2: Schematical representation of the reaction between ethylene and oxygen (taken from ref. 9 ).

This method was used in industry. 8 Another possibility to prepare EO is the reaction of a mixture of a chlorohydrin solution with calcium hydroxide. In this process, ethylene chlorohydrin was heated to temperatures between 70 and 250 °C in the presence of an alkali under pressure for a period of time sufficient to cause substantial reaction. Thereafter EO could be removed from the reacted mixture. 10 Gladys Pozza form a dimer, then the dimer reacts with a new monomer to form a trimer or with another dimer to form a tetramer and this process continues and provides access to polymers.

Stepgrowth polymerization is extensively used in industry for the synthesis of polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides and others. There are two types of step-growth polymerizations, the condensation polymerizations and the addition polymerizations. In the condensation polymerization, the molecules join together with an elimination of small molecules such as water. In the second polymerization method, each step is an addition reaction without small molecules evacuated. W. H. Carothers described this difference in 1929. 13 He developed the polyester synthesis 14 by linear condensation and introduced a series of mathematic equations to describe the behavior of step polymerization system (Carothers Equation 15). In 1953, P. Flory discussed the differences between step-growth polymerization and chain polymerization. The first polymerization uses a functional group and the second requires of the presence of a radical or an ion at the chain-end. 16 1 17,18 The reaction uses a catalytic transition metal/ligand complex. The catalytic complex controls the polymerization reaction by mediating a dynamic equilibrium between the radicals and the inactive form of the polymer, called the dormant species. The dormant form is stabilized and only a few monomer unit are added at a time. This method is effective for the synthesis of copolymers, for example based on methacrylic monomers.

The process is initiated by an alkyl halide (R-X) and mediated by a transition metal complex. Copper(I) halides (Cu(I)Cl or Cu(I)Br) are the most frequently metal salts used in conjunction with nitrogenbased ligands (L) such as 1,1,4,7,10,10hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (HMTETA) and 2,2'bipyridine. 19,20 The catalytic complex extracts the halogen atom from the initiator (R-X) by a redox process. The radical R • is created that propagates adding monomers. The growing chain then fixes a halogen atom from the catalytic complex to form a dormant species. The chain is further reactivated when the catalytic complex traps the chain-end halogen atom to be oxidized (Scheme 3). 20 Scheme 3: Schematical representation of the ATRP process (taken from ref 17 ).

J.-S.

Anionic polymerization

The first living anionic polymerization was demonstrated with styrene and dienes by M. Szwarc in 1956. 25 He started the reaction with a sodium naphthalide complex. A wide range of polymers can be obtained by opening the double bond (olefins and vinyl monomers, styrene and isoprene) or by ring opening polymerization (EO or lactone). M.

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

Szwarc defined the term "living polymers". 26 The polymerization process, in the ideal cases, does not involve a termination step and spontaneous transfer (in the absence of water and oxygen). He explained: "Any growth requires food, the monomer is the food for a growing polymer. If the supply of monomer is exhausted the growth is interrupted. If an additional amount of monomer is available, the living chain-ends are able to grow further". 26 The first step, initiation, is the reaction between a strong base, like an organometallic species or an alcoholate and the monomer. The monomer obtained has a negative charge.

The initiation can be started by attack of an anion or a base (B:) to form a carbanion (a) or by transfer of one electron from one active donor at the double bond of the monomer to form a radical anion and can be dimerized to give a dianion able to grow at both extremities (b) (Scheme 4). 27 Scheme 4: Schematical representation of the initiation step (the counter ions are omitted) (taken from ref. 27 ).

There is a correlation between polymerizability of the monomer, its electronic affinity, and the base. These three factors are related at the substituent nature of the double bond. If the substituent has a high electroactivity, the double bond will have a high electronic affinity. If the monomer has a substituent highly electroattrative, a relatively weak base can be used for the polymerization. 27 The initiation should be fast and quantitative and the nucleophilicity of the initiator should match to the electron affinity of the monomer. If it is too small, initiation may be slow (and/or incomplete), which implies broadening of the molar mass distribution and possibly loss of the molar mass control. Side reactions may occur if the nucleophilicity of the initiator is too high. For each monomer the most adequate initiator has to be selected to attain fast initiation and to avoid side reactions. 28 The propagation corresponds to the addition of one monomer to the negative charge of the first monomer. The propagation continues as long as monomer is present.

At the end of the reaction, addition of an alcohol, acid or water is necessary to deactivate the active chain-end of the polymer. Spontaneous transfer or termination reactions do not take place, if proper systems and adequate reaction conditions are used. At the chain-ends a metal-organic site is present which enables further reactions. This active site is used to prepare block copolymers or functionalized oligomers or polymers. 28 P. Sigwalt described the developments of ring opening polymerization using organometallic initiators in the case of epoxides. He explained the difference between anionic (a) and cationic (b) polymerization such as the difficulties of initiation taking the example of EO (Scheme 5).

Scheme 5: Schematical representation of the reaction between anionic or cationic initiators with EO (taken from ref. 29 ).

The formation of living sites in equilibrium with monomers has been demonstrated in anionic and cationic polymerization processes of heterocyclic monomers. However, the cationic polymerizations are disturbed by the reactions between the active centers present at the chain-end and the oxygen functions of polymer chains leading to cyclic products and by various types of termination reactions. 29 Consequently, for the EO polymerization, the anionic mechanism is preferred.

However, some authors prepared PEOs by cationic polymerization. The polymerization of ethylene oxide by stannic chloride in ethylene chloride solution was developed by D. J.

Worsfold and A. M. Eastham. 30,31 The polymerization with boron fluoride was also studied. 32- 34 More recently A. Yahiaoui et al. prepared PEO with a dihydroxylated terminal structure by cationic ring-opening polymerization of EO in conjunction with ethylene glycol as a cocatalyst in the presence of an acid-exchanged montmorillonite clay, Maghnite-H + , as a catalyst. 35 Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza

Polymerization of ethylene oxide

PEO is an uncharged polymer, it is the simplest structure of a water-soluble polymer.

PEO is a neutral, non-toxic polymer and water soluble at room temperature. PEO has a strong tendency to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules via O groups. The water solubility of PEO is unlimited, at least up to temperatures slightly below 100 °C. The presence of CH 2 CH 2  groups generates some degree of hydrophobicity allowing PEO to be soluble in some organic solvents. This provides the possibility to perform synthetic procedures, including polymerization and phase transfer catalysis, in a broad range of polar and nonpolar solvents. 36,37 PEO is commercially available in an extraordinarily wide range of molar masses from 200 g/mol to several millions and more. PEO, according to Harris 38 and others 39 , is also called poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) for molar masses below 20000 g/mol and PEO refers to higher molar masses polymers. 38 PEO is used in a variety of applications, such as in cosmetics, building materials, papermaking, drug delivery, tablet binders, hydrogels, and polymer electrolytes due to properties such as thickening, lubricity and film formation. 37 As PEO is not recognized by the immune system, materials constituted of PEO incorporated in network structures or grafted onto surface are often used in health care applications. They exhibit a good hemo and biocompatibility.

First synthesis

In the works of A. Wurtz, glycol ethylenic alcohol is obtained by reactions with EO and water. With two molecules of EO he obtained diethylenic alcohol and with three the triethylenic alcohol was created (Scheme 6). 40 Scheme 6: Schematical representation of the reaction between EO and water.

Another possibility was proposed by A. Wurtz heating EO with glycol (Scheme 7). 41 Scheme 7: Schematical representation of the reaction between EO and glycol.

In 1940, P. Flory described the different methods to obtain PEO and predicted a narrow Poisson distribution. 42 P. Flory explained also that EO polymerization may be initiated by alcohols, amines or mercaptant capable of generating a hydroxyl group through reaction with the monomer. In the presence of strong acidic or basic catalysts, the polymerization of EO proceeds rapidly in the following manner (Scheme 8). 16 Scheme 8: Schematical representation of the reaction of an alcohol and EO (taken from ref. 16 ).

M. M. Cohen proposed to react EO with alcohols with an alkyl chain (butyl alcohol CH 3 (CH 2 ) 3 OH, amyl alcohol CH 3 (CH 2 ) 4 CH 2 OH, hexylic alcohol CH 3 (CH 2 ) 5 OH and heptylic alcohol CH 3 (CH 2 ) 6 OH) in the presence of KOH. 43 The resulting products represent excellent intermediates for the synthesis of detergents and other surface active agents. Nonionic agents are becoming more and more useful as time goes on, because they are not affected by the presence of salts that might decrease their activity. 8 Nonionic wetting and surfaceactive agents can be obtained with mercaptans 44 or with HCN to obtain ethylene cyanohydrins. 45 The kinetics studies of the EO polymerization were investigated in the presence of sodium alkoxides. Several initiators based on the reaction of alcohol and sodium were tested. 46 These authors focused also on the EO polymerization in dioxane with sodium or potassium as initiator and several alcohols. 47 Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza

Initiators

As it will be extensively discussed in the following part, EO polymerization can be initiated under good conditions with alkoxides. EO polymerizations can be performed in hexamethyl phosphoramide solution using sodium and potassium alcoholates of monomethylether of diethylene glycol as initiators (Scheme 9). 48 Scheme 9: Schematical representation of the reaction between monomethylether of diethylene glycol and sodium or potassium.

Potassium tert-butoxide can be used in dimethyl sulfoxide or hexamethyl-phosphoric triamide for the EO polymerization. 49 DPMK proved also very efficient as initiator for the EO Not only this type of initiators can be used for the EO polymerization. M. J. Bruce and F. M. Rabagliati polymerized EO in benzene with diphenylzinc, phenylzinc t-butoxide and zinc t-butoxide as initiators. 52 J. Furukawa et al. proposed dialkylzine-Lewis base system as active catalyst for the EO polymerization in toluene with dimethyl sulfoxide as cocatalyst. The diphenylzinc-dimethyl sulfoxide system is efficient for the preparation of high molar mass PEOs. However the obtained PEOs are characterized by high polydispersity index values. 53 Moreover, also calcium amide or calcium hexa-ammoniate as catalyst were utilized for the preparation of PEOs. 54 In another example, a trifunctional initiator for random copolymerization of ethylene oxide and glycidol has been employed by D. Wilms et al. to prepare hyperbranched PEOs in one step. [START_REF] Wilms | Hyperbranched PEG by Random Copolymerization of Ethylene Oxide and Glycidol[END_REF] 1.1.4.3. Some remarks on the AROP of EO Living ring-opening polymerizations of heterocyclic monomers were discussed in several articles. 37,56,57 The AROP of EO requires the use of nucleophilic initiators and involves mostly alkali metal compounds, which are characterized by a high nucleophilicity of the monomer-attacking agent and by a low Lewis acidity of the positive counterion. 37,56 Thus, nucleophilic initiation of the anionic polymerization does not require any monomer coordination to the metal. Sodium, potassium, or cesium-based initiators in an ether solvent, such as THF or hexamethylphosphortriamide (HMPTA), afford a living polymerization allowing the synthesis of end-functional PEO. The propagation rate depends on the counter ion; low in case of lithium and high in case of the cesium. The polymerization with K + as counter ion in THF as solvent proceeds with auto acceleration. This is because the polyether chains can solvate the K + counter ion increasing in this way the propagation rate constant of the ion pairs by shifting the corresponding equilibrium from contact to separated species and increasing the degree of dissociation of the ion pairs into ions with monomer conversion. The degrees of aggregation as well as the corresponding rate constants of propagation were determined.

The solution behavior of PEO in water or in organic solvents and the precise determination of the molecular and structural parameters of PEOs have been the subject of extensive discussions since many years. This is directly connected to the fact that PEO may aggregate in solution. V. Elias et al. 58 systematically by M. Duval. 63 SEC, based on calibration with linear PEOs, is presently the method of choice to be used for the determination of the molar mass of linear PEOs.

However molar mass determinations in THF are limited to M n < 10000 g/mol. For higher molar masses the measurements have to be conducted in water or mixtures of water and acetonitrile. If the PEO chains are decorated at one or both chain-ends with hydrophobic sequence the characterization can be even more complex. Some examples will be given in the present thesis. For branched or star-shaped PEOs, as the hydrodynamic volume of the star-shaped is lower than that of the linear PEO of identical molar mass, LS measurements have to be performed.

Cryptands

As describe before, the EO polymerization requires the use of initiators activated by a metal. However, the type of metal determines the propagation of the polymerization. The propagation during the anionic polymerization occurs through active centers. For the EO polymerization, the reactivity of the active chain-ends increases strongly with increasing the size of the counter-ion. Ion pair association causes a complex reaction kinetics. The rate of polymerization depends on the association and formation of ion pairs. In the medium, inactive aggregates and active species coexist. For the EO polymerization with Li + , the initiation is possible but no propagation has been observed. One explanation is that the comparatively high charge density of the lithium cation induces a strong aggregation between species after insertion of the first EO units because of their tendency to form covalent bonds with the EO -. As a consequence, no propagation reaction is possible for the EO polymerization.

A possibility to improve the propagation is the encapsulation of the cations by addition of cryptands. This molecule surrounds the cation and hides it inside the molecular cavity. 56 AROP of EO with carbazylpotassium complexed by cryptands [222] in THF was performed by A. Deffieux and S. Boileau. 64 Viscosity, conductance and kinetics measurements were also studied (Scheme 11). SEC, high pressure liquid chromatography and viscosity measurement were used to determine the molar masses (Scheme 12). 65 Scheme 12: Schematical representation of polymerization of EO initiated by carbazylpotassium (taken from ref. 65 ).

Phosphazene bases

A new kind of base, polyiminophosphazene, is of great interest for the EO polymerization. This base plays the role of a cryptand. The polar anion groups are located inside the globular molecule and the outer shell is formed by the alkyl substituents. The free volume inside the molecule might be sufficient to host the rather compact Li + ion. The phosphazene base can complex the Li + counter-ion and enable EO polymerization. 66 Phosphazene bases are extremely strong uncharged Brönsted bases, which contain at least a phosphorus atom P(V) bonded to four nitrogen functions of three amines and one imine substituents. t-BuP 2 and t-BuP 4 bases (commercially available phosphazene bases)

have attracted interest in the field of anionic polymerization and are intensively studied. 67 Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

Several types of base exist with lit0hium, protonated and non-protonated phosphazenium base.

Scheme 13: Schematical representation of phosphazene base t-BuP 4 .

Esswein et al. synthesized PEO with t-BuP 4 in the presence of an alcohol, methanol or 1-octanol and with or without organolithium (BuLi) in THF or in toluene (Scheme 14). 68 Scheme 14: Schematical representation of polymerization of EO in the presence of phosphazene base t-BuP 4 (taken from ref. 69 ).

The authors used t-BuP 4 and BuLi as initiator system. The alkyl substituents form the outer shell and the polar anion groups are located inside the globular molecule. Li + ion is sufficiently compact to enter into the free volume inside the molecule. The authors concluded that the phosphazene base can form a [Li-t-BuP 4 ] + complex that suppresses ion pair association. The activation of lithium alkoxides such as BuLi, by t-BuP 4 , for the EO polymerization was performed. The base can complex lithium ions and facilitate the EO polymerization by the formation of reactive lithium alkoxides and a good agreement was observed between theoretical and experimental molar mass values. 66 In another contribution the authors performed the EO polymerization in the presence of t-BuP 4 initiated with 1-octanol or methanol. 66 Poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl alcohol)]-graftpoly(ethylene oxide) copolymers were obtained.

The protonated t-BuP 4 base was studied to access a well-defined heterobifunctional PEOs. The system is based on a conjugated acid and a monofunctional initiator, -methylbenzyl cyanide or p-cresol, in THF (Scheme 15). 70 Scheme 15: Schematical representation of polymerization of EO initiated by -methylbenzyl cyanide or p-cresol (taken from ref. 70 ).

H. Schmalz et al. worked with several initiators and [Li/t-BuP 4 ] counterions under

different reaction conditions and followed the reaction by IR. 71 The influence of different initiators, sec-BuLi, Bu t OH, Bu t OLi and diphenylhexyl lithium on the EO polymerization, was investigated.

Aluminum complexes

Aluminum complexes can be also used for the EO polymerization. 72 In this case, the g/mol) decorated at one or both chain-end with a polymerizable group. They are valuable intermediates in macromolecular engineering. 20,77,78 Typically PS, PI and PEO macromonomers are extensively used for the synthesis of macromolecular architectures such as graft copolymers 79 by copolymerization of the macromonomer with a low molar mass polymerizable compound for comb-shaped polymers 80 by homopolymerization of functional macromonomers or even for hydrogels 81,82 by homo or copolymerization of water-soluble --bifunctional macromonomers. Until recently ionic polymerization, characterized by the absence of spontaneous termination and transfer reactions, was the method of choice to design well-defined macromonomers. Recently controlled radical polymerization processes increasingly contribute to the synthesis of macromonomers of precise molar mass and functionality. 20 Macromonomers can be prepared by ionic polymerization essentially by two different ways. Either a heterofunctional unsaturated initiator is used to initiate the ionic polymerization or the active chain-end is deactivated by means of a heterofunctional polymerizable compound. This approach is limited to a few examples of monomers as the growing chain-end has not to react with the terminal polymerizable group. The second approach can be applied more generally just after polymerization or on already existing polymers. 20 These methods can be used to decorate polymeric chain-ends at one or the both chain-ends with vinyl benzyl, allyl, undecenyl, norbornenyl, methacrylate groups or polymerizable heterocycles.

Poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers

Since many years extensive research has been devoted to PEO macromonomers as they represent interesting buildings blocks for the synthesis of complex branched or cross-Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza linked materials. [83][84][85] Two approaches have been developed to design PEO macromonomers by initiation or by deactivation. 20 The first method refers to a heterofunctional unsaturated alcohol used as initiator, after appropriate modifications, for the AROP of oxirane. In the second method, a heterofunctional polymerizable compound is reacted with the PEO chainends. These different approaches will be briefly presented and discussed below.

PEO macromonomers prepared by initiation

Ethylene oxide is only polymerizable by ionic polymerization methods. However anionic polymerization was shown to be much more efficient for the synthesis of PEO macromonomers than cationic polymerization. 37 macromonomers could be obtained. 86 The molar masses are those expected from the monomer consumed to initiator molar ratio, and the polydispersity index is low (Scheme 18).

Scheme 18: Schematical representation of -p-isopropenylbenzy--hydroxy PEO macromonomer (taken from ref. 86 ). benzyl bromide. 90 The ring-opening metathesis polymerization of these macromonomers was studied in the presence of a Schrock-type catalyst (Scheme 20).

Scheme 20: Schematical representation of the synthesis of -norbornenyl PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 90 ).

Heterobifunctional -hydroxy--amino and -methoxy--amino PEOs were obtained by S. Cammas et al. in the presence allyl alcoholate acting as initiator for the AROP of EO.

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The living chain-ends were deactivated by addition of acetic acid to introduce hydroxyl groups. After purification, the hydroxy groups of -hydroxy--allyl PEOs were modified to yield -hydroxy--amino or -methoxy--amino PEO macromonomers (Scheme 21). 91 Scheme 21: Schematical representation of the synthesis of -hydroxy--amino or -methoxy--amino PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 91 ).

PEO macromonomers prepared by deactivation

The introduction of the polymerizable entity at the PEO chain-end can also be performed by deactivation with a heterofunctional polymerizable compound. This alternative way to prepare PEO macromonomers involves deactivation of the alkoxide function of a monofunctional PEO by means of an unsaturated electrophile. The addition can

Gladys Pozza be performed either after the AROP of EO to deactivate the living chain-ends of PEO or after the chain-end modification of an existing PEO. In the first case, potassium 2methoxyethanolate or DMPK was used for the AROP of EO and the chain-ends were deactivated by methacryloyl chloride (Scheme 23). 86 Scheme 23: Schematical representation of the -diphenylmethyl or -methoxy--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 86 ).

Similarly K. Ito et al. prepared p-vinylbenzyl (or methacryloyl) PEO macromonomers.

Potassium 2-methoxyethanolate was used for the AROP of EO and the living chain-ends were deactivated by p-vinylbenzyl chloride. 84 The same authors extended this approach to the synthesis of different -alkyl--pvinylbenzyl or -alkyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers by AROP of EO with the corresponding potassium alkoxides as the initiators (methyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl or n-octyl)

followed by end capping with p-vinylbenzyl chloride or methacryloyl chloride. The homopolymerization or copolymerization by free radical in water was investigated, their organization in micelles was observed. The influence of the lengths of the alkyl spacer on the micelle formation could be demonstrated (Scheme 24). 93 building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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Scheme 24: Schematical representation of the different initiator groups.

PEO macromonomers with hydroxyl groups at one chain-end can be prepared. The potassium alkoxide of tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether of ethylene glycol was used as initiator for the AROP of EO. 94 The homopolymerization and copolymerization of the result hydroxy PEO macromonomers with styrene were studied.

p-Styrylalkyl PEO macromonomers could be obtained either by initiation or by deactivation and were used in the radical homopolymerization in water or in benzene to design comb-shaped PEOs. The influence of the chemical nature on the kinetics of the free radical polymerization was demonstrated. 95 The synthesis, characterizations and applications of several other types of PEO macromonomers are described. 96 Many examples of the synthesis of macromonomers based on the chain-end modification of -hydroxy or -hydro--hydroxy PEOs have been presented in the literature. It is impossible to discuss all these examples in this thesis. The modification of commercial PEOs does not require the use of EO to access PEO macromonomers. However the contamination of some commercials -hydroxy PEOs by -hydro--hydroxy bifunctional PEOs pose some problems.

A. Revillon and T. Hamaide prepared, starting from commercial PEO, -functional PEO macromonomers design for the free radical copolymerization with styrene. To achieve that aim the chain-ends -hydroxy PEO were reacted with p-vinylbenzyl chloride in the presence of sodium hydroxide. 97 The kinetics of the radical copolymerization of these PEO macromonomers with styrene was systematically investigated and the authors concluded that the chemical structure of the bond between the macromonomer chain and the polymerizable chain-end determines the reactivity of the reaction. 83 Chapter 1

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Typically -allyl PEO macromonomers were prepared via deactivation on the chainend of commercial -hydroxy PEOs with allyl bromide. PEO was dissolved in THF following by the addition of DPMK to obtain an alcoholate, following by the addition of allyl bromide.

These macromonomers were used for the preparation of hybrid star-shaped PEO polymer. 92 Cyclic anhydride can be used as unsaturated compound and subsequently modified with glycidyl methacrylate (Scheme 25). 96 Scheme 25: Schematical representation of the glycidyl methacryloyl PEO macromonomer (taken from ref. 96 ).

In another example, -hydroxy PEO in alkaline medium was reacted with p-vinylbenzyl chloride to access to terminal p-vinylbenzyl groups (Scheme 26). 96 Scheme 26: Schematical representation of the p-vinylbenzyl PEO macromonomers.

K. Ito prepared -dodecyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers via deactivation with methacryloyl chloride of -dodecyl--hydroxy PEO in the presence sodium hydride. The

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macromonomers were used to study on the radical copolymerization of styrene or benzyl methacrylate. 84 Methacrylic acid (1), 1-methacryloylimidazole in the presence of triethylamine (2) and 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (3) were used for the synthesis of -methacryloyl PEO macromonomers (Scheme 27). -n-Octadecyl--p-vinylbenzyl PEO macromonomers were prepared by deactivation of mono stearyl ether PEO in the presence of sodium hydride followed by end capping with pvinylbenzyl chloride. 93 -Hydro--hydroxy PEOs were modified at the chain-end by reaction of the hydroxy end-groups with a large excess of allyl bromide in bulk in the presence of a sodium hydroxide. Well-defined ,-diallyl PEOs were obtained. They were subsequently used in the synthesis of hydrogels by reacting them via hydrosilylation 2,4,6,8tetramethyltetrahydrocyclosiloxane acting as the cross-linking agent. Hydrogels characterized by a low percentage of extractible material and exhibiting good mechanical properties could be obtained. 99 Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza (butadiene, isoprene or styrene) with EO. In the following section the two main approaches to design PI-b-PEO diblock polymers via anionic copolymerization will be briefly discussed. A more recent method based on a combination of AROP of EO and nitroxide-mediated polymerization will also be presented.

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza

Synthesis

As mentioned above two approaches have been developed over the past 20 years to access PI-b-PEOs. In the first case an -living PI is prepared by anionic polymerization, in cyclohexane or benzene, with sec-BuLi or tert-butyllithium as initiator. After polymerization, the living chain-ends are deactivated by addition of EO / acetic acid to introduce hydroxyl functions at the chain-ends. In a second step, the hydroxyl chain-ends are deprotonated with cumylpotassium 111 or potassium naphthalide 96,97 EO was added for the AROP. The chainends of the resulting diblock copolymers were deactivated with acetic acid (Scheme 36). 112,113 Scheme 36: Schematical representation of the copolymerization of isoprene and EO.

The second method is based on addition of tert-butyl phosphazene base. 114,115 As described before, this strong base not only disrupts the O-Li aggregates but also creates free anions, which are able to initiate the polymerization of EO. Typically, the isoprene polymerization was initiated with sec-BuLi in benzene. The living chain-ends were modified by addition of EO to introduce O-Li + functions at the PI chain-ends, t-BuP 4 and EO were added (Scheme 37).

Synthesis via click chemistry

Click chemistry was used in many cases to prepare block copolymers. Isotactic PS-block-PEO was synthesized via a thiol-ene click coupling reaction of vinylterminated isotactic PS with thiol-terminated PEO. 119 These PEO were synthesized by the direct esterification of -hydroxy PEO with 3-mercaptopropionic acid using hafnium(IV) chloride tetrahydrofuran complex. iPS was prepared by the extremely highly isospecific polymerization of styrene with 1,4-dithiabutandiyl-2,20-bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy) titanium dichloride and methylaluminoxane in the presence of 1,7-octadiene as a chain transfer agent. 120 The behavior and micelle morphology of the crystallization-driven selfassembly of these blocks in N,N-dimethylformamide were investigated in detail.

PEO star-shaped polymers and silsesquioxanes

One of the previous sections of this chapter is devoted to the synthesis via AROP of EO of various heterofunctional or heterobifunctional macromonomers of precise molar mass and functionality. Among these, -allyl PEO macromonomers could be used successfully to

PEO star-shaped polymers

Star-shaped polymers are characterized as branched species where all the chains of one molecule are connected to a central unit which can also be a more extended core. The interest for star-shaped polymers arises from their compactness and enhanced segment density as compared to that of their linear counterparts of same molar mass. In the past 40 years intensive work has been devoted to star-shaped PEOs. 121,122 They represent interesting models for physicochemical studies and can also be used as building blocks for the synthesis of hydrogels 123 or serve as surface-modifying agents 124,125 to improve the biocompatibility of surfaces designed for biomedical applications.

Two main approaches were developed to design star-shaped polymers PEO: The socalled "core-first" method 121 in which a living polyfunctional core is used to initiate the AROP of EO. In the "arm-first" approach monofunctional PEOs Eight-arm EPO stars can be prepared by the "core-first" method in the presence of octahydroxylated precursors. 131 This precursor is based on an modified tertbutylcalix [8]arene and the AROP was performed by addition of DPMK. The combinatorial chemistry was used to design a novel star-shaped block copolymer, consisting of a PEG core and a poly(-caprolactone) shell with a unique potential for a range of applications. 138 Star-shaped PEOs were synthesized by AROP of EO using pentaerythriol as initiator and DPMK. The EO polymerization was terminated by addition of acidic methanol to introduce hydroxyl functions at the outer end of the PEO arms. These chain-ends were transformed in acetylene functions. Finally eight-shaped PEOs were obtained by Glaser coupling reaction (Scheme 42). 139

Scheme 41: Schematical representation of the synthesis star-shaped PEO with alkyne group (taken from ref. 139 ).

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

The term silsesquioxanes refers to all structures with the empirical formulas RSi0 to introduce functionalities at the -chain-end. The living chain-ends are deactivated with alcohol or acid to introduce hydroxyl functions at the -chain-end. The introduction of functionalities at the -chain-end can also be performed by deactivation with an unsaturated compound. This function can be used for the preparation of block copolymers, graft copolymers and star-shaped polymers. However, this method requires the use of EO.

Commercial -hydroxy or -hydro--hydroxy functionalized PEOs can be utilized to access PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification with an unsaturated compound. By these both methods, well-defined PEO macromonomers can be obtained, heterofunctional, heterobifunctional or bifunctional.

Usually anionic polymerization of isoprene and EO is applied for the preparation of PIb-PEO. -Hydroxyl PIs are prepared by addition of some EO units at the end of the isoprene polymerization. The hydroxyl chain-ends were activated by an initiator to perform the EO polymerization and to access PI-b-PEO. However the addition of a phosphazene base after the end of the isoprene polymerization enables the preparation of an EO polymerization in the same medium. Click chemistry is another option to synthesize such blocks copolymers.

The preparation of PEO star-shaped polymers is elaborated by the "core-first" or the "arm-first" approaches. The "core-first" method requires the use of EO and a polyfunctional initiator. In the "arm-first" method, heterofunctional PEOs or POSS compounds can be used as core. Click chemistry is another possibility for the synthesis of ABC 3-miktoarm, star terpolymers, star-shaped block copolymers and eight-shaped PEOs.

Summary

The second chapter of the thesis is devoted to the controlled synthesis of new branched hybrid inorganic-organic water soluble materials. These PEO based materials should combine the unique behavior of organic polymers with the good physical properties of POSS. They should be characterized by enhanced thermal and thermomechanical stability as well as mechanical toughness.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of PEO macromonomers decorated at one or both chain ends either with allyl or with undecenyl end-groups is described first. The Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza was selected. Two -allyl functional PEOs of M n 1900 and 4600 g/mol were chosen.

The different reaction products were characterized by three independent methods: SEC, IR and 1 H NMR. SEC with RI detection was used to evaluate the amount of -allyl PEO grafted.

The kinetics of the reaction was followed by 1 Molar mass and functionality of the PEO stars were also determined by MALDI-ToF MS.

The values are in good agreement with those measured by LS.

A potential application of these PEO / POSS stars as surface modifying agent is presented in Figure 2.1. These PEO / POSS could by linked to hydrophobic surfaces to enhance their hydrophilicity as well as their biocompatibility. In addition the presence of the POSS entity should also improve the mechanical properties of the surface coating.

The extension of this reaction to -undecenyl PEO macromonomers will be discussed in Chapter 5 of the thesis.

Introduction

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a water soluble polymer with outstanding biocompatibility.

PEOs are used as building blocks for a large number of complex macromolecular architectures designed for various applications [1-6]. Due to the chemically inert backbone of the PEO chain containing ether units, controlled modification of that backbone to insert functional groups is difficult. However, end-group functionalization of PEOs has gained more and more importance to access a wide range of water soluble heterofunctional PEOs. Over the last years, several approaches have been developed to prepare PEO macromonomers via Anionic Ring Opening Polymerization (AROP) of ethylene oxide in the presence of a heterofunctional initiator or by chain-end modification of PEOs [7]. Potassium p-vinyl or pisopropenyl benzylates belong to the first generation of initiators providing access to welldefined PEO macromonomers [7-11]. In the mentioned example, advantage is taken from the very large difference in electroaffinity between the vinyl group and the oxirane ring. Several other heterofunctional initiators were developed to synthesize PEO macromonomers fitted at the chain-end with a polymerizable heterocycle [12, 13]. The synthesis of monofunctional allyl PEOs based on the alcoholate derived from allyl alcohol has also been described in the literature [14]. An alternative method using acetals as protecting group has been proposed recently to decorate PEOs at one chain-end with an allyl group [15]. -Hydroxy--allyl PEOs were successfully prepared by deprotection of the hydroxyl ends of these heterofunctional PEOs.

Less attention was given to -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs characterized by a flexible hydrophobic spacer between the PEO chain and the unsaturated unit in spite of the potential interest of such macromonomers. Besides our preliminary studies on the synthesis of undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs, covering a limited range of PEO molar masses, [16], Herrwerth et al. [17] reported in 2003 the synthesis of -(carboxymethyl)-- [11-Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza mercapto(undecenyloxy)-poly(ethylene oxides) via AROP in the presence of 10-undecene-1ol activated with NaH. Such heterofunctional PEOs could be useful for various applications, e.g., as building block in precise macromolecular engineering via hydrosilylation [18] or to create surfaces with specific antigen binding capacity [17].

Functional PEOs including macromonomers are also accessible by reaction of the alkoxide function, located at one chain-end, with an appropriate unsaturated electrophile. Such a strategy was used successfully with allyl bromide [19, 20], methacryloyl choride [8, 21], pvinyl benzyl bromide [10, 21-23] or norbornene carbonyl chloride [24, 25]. The extension of the approach to the synthesis of -undecenyl PEOs will be discussed in a forthcoming article [18]. Decisive progress in the functionalization reactions with alkyl halides was made with the introduction of phase transfer catalysts [26-28].

-Methacryloyl or -styrenyl PEOs macromonomers have been extensively used to design graft or comb-shaped polymers by free or controlled radical polymerizations. No examples of FRP or CRP polymerization or copolymerization with low molar monomers of -allyl or undecenyl PEOs could be found in the accessible literature. This can be explained by the low reactivity of the allyl or undecenyl group in radical polymerization process. Few literature references exist discussing the metallocene-catalysed ethylene copolymerization with N,Nbis(trimethysilyl)-1-amino-10-undecene [29] or the synthesis of allyl-terminated polar monomers by coordination polymerization of 10-undecene-1-ol [28]. -Allyl or -undecenyl polystyrene could also be incorporated by coordination polymerization in polyethylenes [30].

However, PEO macromonomers decorated with allyl-end groups are well-suited for coupling reactions via hydrosilylation. Typically the synthesis of PEO / poly(dimethylsiloxanes) block or graft copolymers covering a large number of applications including surface modification could be achieved by hydrosilylation [31, 32]. They served also in the synthesis of monosubstituted cube-shaped spherosilsesquioxanes with amphiphilic properties, combining

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the relatively hydrophobic spherosilsesquioxane core with hydrophilic PEO segments [33], in star-shaped PEOs with spherosilsesquioxane cores [16, 20, 34] or in cross-linked materials [35, 36]. These PEOs are increasingly used in post-polymerization reactions, e.g., thiol-ene click reaction to introduce bioactive compounds (sugars, cell-penetrating peptides), for a specific tuning of the polymer or surface properties [37-42]. This stimulated us to investigate the precise synthesis via AROP of ethylene oxide and the characterization of a series of heterofunctional amphiphilic PEOs, decorated with an undecenyl group at one chain-end and a hydroxyl function at the other end (Scheme 1), covering a large domain of molar masses.

The synthesis in the presence of an initiator prepared in-situ will be considered first and extended to an alcoholate in the powder form. Next some preliminary studies of the solution behavior of these -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers will be presented. The modification of the hydroxyl chain-end with a polymerizable methyl methacrylate (MMA) group or with an acetylene group will be attempted. The coupling via "click reaction" of an undecenyl--acetylene PEO with an -azido PI will be discussed in the further section. The application of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl heterobifunctional PEO macromonomers in the design of PEO based functional branched architectures will be discussed in the last part.

SCHEME 1.

Representation of a PEO heterofunctional macromonomer with start and end group.

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza

Experimental

Materials

Cyclohexane, ethylbenzene and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (Aldrich) were purified by conventional methods and kept under argon atmosphere (THF was first treated with a solvent purification system (PureSolv, Innovative Technology)). Dichloromethane (Carlo Erba), dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO (Aldrich) and diethyl ether (Carlo Erba) were used as received.

Ethylene oxide (Linde or Aldrich) was purified over sodium and distilled before use. Preparative SEC with fraction collector was used. The system was calibrated with PEO standards from PSS with molar masses from 1,470 to 42,000 g/mol.

Static and dynamic light scattering

The static light scattering (SLS) measurements were carried out with a red He-Ne laser with a wavelength of   = 632.8 nm, a discrete-angle goniometer acting within the range from 20° to 155°, a Hamamatsu type photomultiplier as the detector, a photo-counting device and a toluene index matching bath [44]. DLS measurements are run with an ALV/DLS/SLS-5020F experimental setup (ALV-Laser Vertriebsgesellshaft mbH, Langen, Germany) equipped with a vertically polarized light of a 22 mW He-Ne laser of 632.8 nm as an incident beam, a compact ALV/CGS-8 goniometer system and an ALV-5000 autocorrelator. The measurements are performed at 60, 90 and 120° at 25 °C. Polymer solutions with a concentration from 1 to 5 g/L were prepared by direct dissolution in water or in methanol. The CONTIN algorithm was applied to analyze the obtained correlation functions. Apparent hydrodynamic radii were calculated from the Stokes-Einstein equation. All CONTIN plots are unweighted.

MALDI-TOF MS

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For the measurement of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) spectra, an Ultraflex III TOF/TOF instrument (Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany) was used. IR spectroscopy was performed in the Attenuated Total Reflection Mode (ATR-FTIR) using a Vertex 70 spectrometer (Bruker, Germany) equipped with a DTGS detector and a single reflection diamond ATR accessory (A225/Q Platinum ATR, Bruker, Germany). Reference (air) and sample spectra were taken by collecting 20 interferograms between 500 and 3500 cm -1 using a Blackman-Harris three-term apodization and the standard Bruker OPUS/IR software (version 5.0).

Critical micelle concentration determination (cmc)

Fluorescence spectra were measured on a Hitachi F-4010 spectrofluorometer between 350 and 500 nm. Pyrene was used as a fluorescent probe, usually with an excitation wavelength at 335 nm. The vibronic fluorescence spectrum of pyrene exhibits five peaks denoted 15 [45]. It is well known that the ratio I 1 / I 3 of the intensities of the first to the third peak correlates with the polarity of the immediate environment of pyrene. It is equal to 1.81.9 in water and reaches 0.9 in non-polar solvents. In these experiments, I 1 / I 3 was measured as a function of the polymer concentration in order to follow the association process and to determine the Gladys Pozza order of magnitude of the cmc. A series of PEO macromonomer solutions were prepared over a concentration range from 5  10 -6 to 5  10 -4 mol/L using a (stock) solution of pyrene in water (5  10 -7 mol/L).

Viscosimetry

An automatic capillary viscosimeter of Schott AVS 360 equipped with Ubbelohde capillary of 0.53 mm diameter was used. The apparatus was tempered at 25 °C (± 0.02 °C). The measurements were conducted in methanol. The viscosimeter was used according to the range of associative polymer concentration.

Synthesis

Synthesis of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO by initiation

10-Undecene-1-ol (1  10 -3 mol, 0.17 g, 0.2 mL) was introduced directly into the reactor, then dry THF (100 mL) was added and the hydroxyl functions were transformed into alcoholates by addition of a stoichiometric amount of DPMK (0.58 M, 1  10 -3 mol, 1.7 mL) at room temperature (the stoichiometry was determined by colorimetry). Subsequently, the reaction medium was cooled to 20 °C and the calculated amount of ethylene oxide (1  10 -3 mol, 10 g, 11.36 mL) was added. The solution was heated to 40 °C in one hour and was stirred for 1 to 2 days at 30 to 50 °C (depending on the molar mass of the PEO sample, see Table 1). In one case, for purpose of comparison, the hydroxyl functions were only partially transformed into alcoholates by addition of DPMK (around 20 mol. % of the theoretical amount). Then, the ethylene oxide polymerization procedure described above was carried out. Methanol (containing a few drops of acetic acid) was added to deactivate the alcoholates. The resulting polymer was precipitated in diethyl ether, filtered, dried and characterized by SEC and

Polymerization of ethylene oxide

The undecenol-based alcoholate was tested for the AROP of ethylene oxide. The desired amount of the powder initiator was determined by weighing (in the glove box), dispersed in dry THF (or ethylbenzene in some cases) and introduced directly into the reactor. Then, the polymerization procedure described above was carried out. 1

Synthesis of (PI-b-PEO) via click chemistry

PI-N 3 (7,700 g/mol, 1 g, 1.29  10 -4 mol) was dissolved in 20 mL of THF. PEO (5,800 g/mol, 0.75 g, 1.29  10 -4 mol) and CuBr (5 eq., 6.49  10 -4 mol, 0.093 g) were added. Oxygen was removed from the solution by three freeze-pump-thaw cycles. PMDETA was added. (5 eq., 6.49  10 -4 mol, 0.135 mL). The reaction was stirred for 24 hours at room temperature.

Afterwards, the solvent was evaporated. The resulting polymer was dissolved in THF, precipitated in cold acetone and dried. This operation was repeated three times. The resulting polymer was investigated by SEC and purified by preparative SEC using Bio-Beads® in THF. The polymer fraction was characterized by 1 H NMR. 1

Gladys Pozza

The sample PEOund-MA5 (see Table 3) (M n = 3,500 g/mol, 0.3 g, 8.57  10 -5 mol) was dissolved in dry toluene and AIBN (0.28 mg, 1.71  10 -6 mol, 2% in mol per methacryloyl entity) was added. The system was degassed three times using freeze pump thaw cycles. The reaction was kept at 70 °C for 1 day. The solvent was evaporated. This reaction was also conducted in THF at 50 °C. The sample PEOund-MA5 (M n = 3,500 g/mol, 0.25 g, 7.14  10 -5 mol) was dissolved in dry THF and AIBN (0.23 mg, 1.43  10 -6 mol, 2% in mol per methacryloyl entity) was added. The reaction was kept at 50 °C during 6 hours. The solvent was evaporated. Both reaction products were characterized by SEC (without purification).

Homopolymerization by ATRP of -undecenyl-methacryloyl PEO macromonomers

The sample PEOund-MA6 (M n = 3,500 g/mol, 0.3 g, 8.57  10 -5 mol) was dissolved in 1 mL degassed Milli-Q water. A solution of CuBr/bipyridine was prepared by mixing bipyridine.

(0.12 eq., 16.1 mg, 1.03  10 -5 mol) and CuBr (0.18 eq., 22.0 mg, 1.54  10 -5 mol) in 10 mL degassed Milli-Q water under Argon. This solution was stirred vigorously during 15 min to obtain a brown solution. 1 mL of this solution was added to the PEO solution. The PEO bromide macro-initiator [46] (0.18 eq., 27.7 mg, 1.54  10 -5 mol dissolved in 0.5 mL degassed Milli-Q water) was added. The reaction was kept at 60 °C during 1 day. The solvent was evaporated. The final product was passed through alumina column to remove Cu derivatives and characterized by SEC.

Synthesis of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO star-shaped polymers via pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate)

In an air-tight microwave glass vial 167 mg (M n = 3,900 g/mol, 4.9  10 -5 mol) of PEOund-MA5 were dissolved in 4 mL of THF. To the solution 5.23 mg (1.1  10 -5 mol, ratio 1/4) pentaerythritol tetrakis (3-mercaptopropionate) and 2.2 mg DMPA (8.6  10 -6 mol, ratio 1/5) were added and the reaction mixture was degassed with argon for 30 min. Afterwards the Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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mixture was irradiated for 24 h under UV-light (366 nm) to ensure a maximum conversion of the functional PEO precursor. The purification of the reaction mixture was performed on a preparative SEC system with automated fraction collector. The identified 4 arm star-shaped PEO was further characterized by 1 H NMR and MALDI-TOF MS.

2.4 Isolation of the comb-shaped PEO

Dialysis

The raw reaction product (0.5 g) was dissolved in de-ionized water (100 mL). This solution was introduced into a dialysis membrane constituted of regenerated cellulose and characterized by pores of controlled size (molar mass cut-off at 7,500 g/mol). This membrane was placed into a great excess of de-ionized water. PEO comb-shaped molecules should be retained, whereas -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEOs should pass freely through the membrane. After one day, water was replaced, this operation was repeated several times during four days. The water solutions were concentrated, the remaining product was dissolved in THF, precipitated in diethyl ether and characterized by SEC.

Fractional precipitation

Fractional precipitation was carried out in a tempered water circulating bath. The raw reaction product (0.95 g) was dissolved in toluene (60 mL) in a conventional pear-like vessel at 25 °C.

Cyclohexane was added drop by drop until the medium had become turbid. Thus the solution is heated up until the turbidity had vanished. The temperature is decreased to 25 °C, and the solution was kept at that temperature during 24 hours. The lower phase should contain the comb-shaped PEO and the upper one the unreacted macromonomer. The fractions were recovered and analyzed by SEC.

Results and discussion

The development of efficient approaches based on AROP of ethylene oxide to decorate PEO chain-ends with an undecenyl end-group constitutes the main aim of the present work. For undecenyl end-functionalized polymers, the flexible aliphatic alkyl spacer may enhance the reactivity of the terminal double bond and also influence the properties of the polymer at least for the PEO chains with lower molar masses.

Synthesis of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs by initiation

As mentioned in the introduction, preliminary studies [16, 17], have shown that -undecenyl--hydroxy-PEO macromonomers can be obtained starting from 10-undecene-1-ol (Scheme 2). Compared to the approach that uses the chain-end modification of existing monofunctional PEOs [47], AROP of ethylene oxide in the presence of an unsaturated initiator such as potassium undecenolate presents several advantages. The molar mass of the PEO macromonomer can be tailored by controlling the ratio of monomer to initiator. The hydroxyl function present at one chain-end of the heterofunctional -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer can be selectively modified. This can be made without affecting the unsaturation, which remains present for further reactions. On the other hand, the double bond at the chain-end can also be chemically transformed, provided the hydroxyl function is protected. This stimulated us to perform a systematic investigation of the AROP of ethylene oxide initiated by the alcoholate derived from undecenol. building blocks in macromolecular engineering At first, we used classical conditions for the preparation of a series of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers starting from undecenol. The preparation of the initiator and the polymerization procedure are described in detail in the experimental section. THF was selected as solvent instead of non-polar solvents, like toluene, to limit the aggregation of the potassium undecenolate. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) would have been an interesting alternative to prevent strong aggregation of propagating aggregates due to its higher dissociating power and higher propagating rates [27]. However, this solvent poses some problems due to the fact that the dimethylsulfinyl carbanions, formed by transfer of propagating alkoxides to DMSO, may also act as initiators [27, 48].

After addition of a stoichiometric amount of DPMK to 10-undecene-1-ol in THF, a potassium alcoholate is formed, which subsequently serves as an initiator for the AROP of ethylene oxide. Once DPMK is added, the reaction medium becomes gradually heterogeneous due to the association and aggregation of the alcoholates. This should have no consequences on the characteristics of the resulting PEOs as the exchange of protons between active alkoxides and hydroxylated species is rapid and much faster than the propagation rate. This was applied for the synthesis of star-or dendrimer like PEOs [27, 49-53]. Therefore, we decided to proceed to partial deprotonation of undecenol followed by AROP of ethylene oxide. This experience was not convincing. As a consequence, all our attempts to design the -undecenyl--hydroxy

PEOs by initiation were performed in the presence of an initiator obtained by addition of a stoichiometric amount of DPMK to 10-undecene-1-ol in THF, which forms a potassium alcoholate. As mentioned above, partial precipitation of the initiator was observed, too.

However, when the PEO chains reach a sufficient length, they contribute to solvate the potassium and the reaction medium becomes homogeneous. The relatively low nucleophilicity of the active chain-end should prevent the attack of the undecene double bond.

After given reaction times, depending on the concentration of active sites and the desired molar mass, the living chain-ends are deactivated with acidified methanol (MeOH). The molecular characteristics of the resulting -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs obtained by SEC are given in Table 1 together with the experimental conditions. -Undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers covering a range of molar mass from 2,000 g/mol to 23,000 g/mol could be obtained. The SEC curves (Fig. S1) are sharp in most cases, demonstrating a good control of the polymerization process although the reaction took place in a partially heterogeneous medium. This can be explained by the fact that the reaction medium becomes homogeneous after addition of a few ethylene oxide units and the propagation reaction is a slow process. The molar masses are close to those expected from the ratio of monomer to initiator concentration, taking the polymerization yield into account. The Gladys Pozza degree of functionalization, determined by 1 H NMR (Fig. S2), is in agreement with the theoretical calculations.

Synthesis of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO by initiation starting from an initiator in the powder form

Preliminary remarks

As we noticed that the potassium initiator based on 10-undecen-1-ol may precipitate in the reaction medium during its formation, we tried to take advantage of this phenomenon to design this initiator in powder form. Such an initiator would have several advantages as compared to classical initiators prepared in solution just before use. The availability of such a powder initiator would facilitate the processing and the reaction procedure. Due to the active powder, which can easily be weighed under inert conditions, a subsequent time consuming titration in the reactor can be avoided. Beyond that, a possible automation of the ethylene oxide polymerization in robot systems would benefit from the application of initiators in powder form.

Preparation of the initiator

In classical strategies, the transformation of the hydroxyl group into potassium alcoholates with DPMK leads to the formation of diphenylmethane as a side-product. These products may contaminate the final PEO and it has been shown that traces of these contaminants are difficult to remove (e.g., twofold reprecipitation to remove diphenyl methane) [20]. The absence of contaminations is in particular important for PEOs designed for biological applications.

As described in the experimental section we were able to prepare and purify such a powder initiator based on undecenol following a strategy close to that used for potassium methoxy ethanolate [54]. In Figure S3, the 1 H NMR spectrum of a carefully purified product is presented where no contamination in the powder is visible. Another outstanding feature is the Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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long term stability of the powder of undecenol initiators. We stored them up to 6 months in the glove box and no deactivation could be observed in later polymerization reactions.

Polymerization of ethylene oxide

The powder initiator, whose synthesis has been described above, was used for the preparation, in THF or in ethylbenzene, of a series of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs by AROP of ethylene oxide. The different characterization results of the PEO macromonomers are collected in Table 2 together with the experimental conditions. PEOs covering a range of molar masses from 2,400 up to 44,800 g/mol could be obtained. No significant differences were observed between the samples whether they are prepared in THF or in ethylbenzene. 2). To proof this molar mass, we additionally characterized

Solution behavior of the undecenyl PEO macromonomers

Aqueous solutions of end-modified PEOs have attracted considerable attention over the past decades. Most of the studies which were already published are based on end-capped PEOs with short hydrophobic entities. These groups can be short alkanes [55, 56] or hydrophobic polymerizable entities [3, 57, 58]. They can be located at one or both chain-ends. The influence of the different terminal groups (including hydroxyl or methyl), the length of the PEO block and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance on the properties and the solution behavior in water has been investigated systematically from both a fundamental [59] and an experimental [60-64] point of view. These polymers found many applications, as viscosity Gladys Pozza modifiers [63], [65], in cosmetics [66], in inks [67], in paints, as building blocks for biomedical applications [68]. Extensive studies by light scattering [69, 70], X-ray [71] and neutron scattering [72], viscometry [56] or even by 1 H NMR [73] were performed to characterize these systems. However, almost no work was published on amphiphilic PEO macromonomers constituted of a hydrophilic PEO chain decorated at one chain-end with a hydrophobic undecenyl entity. To investigate this in detail, DLS measurements were performed on PEO macromonomers characterized by the presence of an undecene entity at one chain end. Therefore, methanol or water solutions with a concentration from 1 to 5 g/L of two und-PEO-OH samples (sample EOp-und8, M n = 19,300 g/mol and sample EOp-und1 2,100 g/mol respectively) were prepared. The different PEO solutions were analyzed by DLS.

The measurements were made at three different angles: 60, 90 and 120 °. No angular dependence was observed.

For the measurements made in methanol on sample EOp-und8, at 1 or 5 g/L, only one peak is visible (Fig. S4). The hydrodynamic radius values are around 3 nm for both concentrations.

These values are in good agreement with those measured for PEO samples of almost identical molar masses [64]. For the measurement made on sample EOp-und1 (Fig. S5), at a concentration of 2.5 g/L we obtained a hydrodynamic radius around 2 nm. For these two samples we did not observe aggregates in methanol or an influence on the M n . These conclusions were confirmed by intrinsic viscosity measurements performed in methanol on the samples EOp-und1 and EOp-und10. The evolution of  r (reduced viscosity) with the concentration remains strictly linear over the same range of concentration studied. The presence of the undecene group at the PEO chain-end does not affect the solution behavior at least in domain of concentration studied in this work.

However, for the DLS measurements made on the same samples (EOp-und8, 4.2 g/L) in water, we can clearly identify two peaks (Fig. S6). For the measurement made on sample

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EOp-und1 (Fig. S7). At 1.4 g/L or 5.7 g/L we can draw the same conclusion. In water, it could clearly be shown that the undecene parts affects the solubility of the PEO chain as some aggregates are present for all the samples. Therefore, we submitted also our samples to fluorescence probe experiments. The details concerning the preparation of the samples are given in the experimental section. The variation of the I 1 / I 3 ratio of the first and third vibronic peaks in the fluorescence spectrum of pyrene solubilized in water containing the amphiphilic polymers constitutes a good evaluation of the polarity of the probe microenvironment. Pyrene is not very soluble in water, it prefers hydrophobic domains. The evolution of the I 1 / I 3 ratio was measured for two -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers. The results are presented in Figure 3. The I 1 / I 3 ratio decreases with increasing concentration. It seems clear that an increase in the length of the PEO block corresponds to better solubility in water (Fig. 3). In conclusion, the presence of the hydrophobic block clearly influences more the behavior in water than in methanol.

Synthesis of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine

As discussed in the introduction, PEO macromonomers are characterized by a high degree of synthetic flexibility that enables the introduction of a large number of functions at one or both chain-ends. Their homopolymerization or copolymerization with a low molar mass polymerizable entity, and the properties and behavior of the resulting comb-shaped, graftshaped or crosslinking materials have attracted considerable attention [13, 21, 39, 74-76].

PEO based materials covering a large number of applications have been developed over the years. Typically PEOs can serve in the design for polymeric drug nano carriers as soluble polymers [77] or in the form of micro or nanogels [78]. The modification of surfaces with PEO macromonomers or with PEO brushes is increasingly used to confer hydrophilicity and to improve biocompatibility [47, 79, 80].

If the hydroxyl group of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO is modified with polymerizable groups of a different chemical nature, further possibilities could be granted to design new PEO based materials. Since the pioneering work of Ito et al. [81] increasing interest was devoted to heterofunctional PEO macromonomers decorated with two chemically different polymerizable entities. Yagci et al. [82] designed a few years ago PEO macromonomers with a styryl group on one end and a methacryloyl on the other. They extended the approach to vinyl ether -methacryloyl PEO macromonomers [82, 83]. However almost no work was made on the modification of the hydroxyl end of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers. To achieve that aim, the hydroxyl functions of a series of -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomers were acetylated with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine as shown by Lin-Gibson [84] (Scheme 3). The molecular characteristics of the PEO precursor samples and of the resulting PEO macromonomers, determined by SEC and 1 H NMR, are collected in Table 3. A typical SEC diagram is also presented in Figure S8. 3. In most cases, the functionalization yield is close to 100%. The M n values obtained by SEC and determined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy are in good agreement.

The presence of the methacryloyl entity at the chain-end was confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS (Fig. S10). As expected, the molar mass of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO is higher than that of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO. A difference of m/z of 69 could be noted, which is attributed to the methacryloyl group. For the MALDI-TOF MS spectrum presented in Figure S10, a "minor" distribution is visible. The distribution corresponds to the "sodiated"

but not to the "potassiumed" -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO. As discussed later in the text, these -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEOs were used as well-defined building blocks for the synthesis of comb-or star-shaped PEOs.

Synthesis of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification with propargyl bromide

The possibility to access modified -hydroxy chain-ends by acetylene groups in the presence of DPMK or sodium hydride was already demonstrated [85, 86]. As a consequence undecenyl--acetylene PEO can be obtained. We selected an approach derived from the "chain-end functionalization" method to prepare the -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs starting from -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs after modification of the chain-ends with DPMK followed by the addition of propargyl bromide (Scheme S1). After purification, the different -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs were submitted to a detailed characterization. It must be ensured that every single polymer chain is modified with a terminated triple bond. The resulting functional PEOs were characterized by SEC to prove the absence of the PEO precursor and of any coupling products (Figure 4). In most cases, the M n values determined by SEC (based on a calibration with linear -hydro--hydroxy PEOs) are in good agreement building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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with the expected values. The slight increase in molar mass with respect to the PEO precursor is attributed to the presence of the unsaturation at one chain-end.

Synthesis of PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers via a combination of living anionic polymerization and azide/alkyne cycloadditon

PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers are utilized in many applications and are of broad interest due to their high potential in micellization and their ability to self-organize in selective solvents into a wide variety of micellar aggregates [87, 88]. Two approaches, based on the sequential living anionic polymerization of isoprene and ethylene oxide, have been developed over the past 20 years to access PI-b-PEOs [87, 89]. In the first case an -living PI was prepared by anionic polymerization, in cyclohexane or benzene, with sec-butyllithium or tert-butyllithium as initiator. In a second step, the hydroxyl chain-ends were deprotonated with cumyl potassium [90] or potassium naphthalide [91, 92] followed by addition of EO for the AROP.

Increasing efforts have been made to design efficient approaches providing access to PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers in an one step process. In non-polar solvents, if excess EO is added to -living PIs only an end-group functionalization takes place without oligomerization or polymerization. This is not the case when additives such as cryptates or phosphazene bases are used [93, 94]. Typically, isoprene polymerization was initiated with sec-butyllithium in benzene. After the isoprene polymerization, the carbanionic chain-ends are reacted with EO, whereupon O-Li + alcoholates are generated, then t-BuP Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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PI-N 3 were prepared as described in reference [96]. Briefly, carbanionic PIs were synthesized by anionic polymerization in toluene with sec-butyllithium as initiator. Quenching with EO and subsequently acidified methanol provided access to -hydroxy PIs characterized by a high content of 1,4-cis units and exhibiting low polydispersity index values. In a second step, the tosylation of the hydroxy functions of the PI chain-ends and the conversion of the tosylated chain-ends into azide functional groups was achieved. PI-N 3 were characterized by SEC to verify the absence of coupling products (not presented here). The molar mass values obtained by SEC / LS are in good agreement with the expected data. This PI-b-PEO was purified by preparative SEC using Bio-Beads® in THF. Fraction 1 was characterized by SEC and a M n value of 11,000 g/mol could be obtained (Figure 5). -

Homopolymerization of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers by Free-Radical Polymerization (FRP) or Atom-Transfer Radical-Polymerization (ATRP)

As mentioned in the introduction, FRP of PEO macromonomers carrying a methacryloyl group at one chain-end has been extensively used to design comb-shaped polymers characterized by a hydrophobic PMMA backbone and water soluble grafts. In FRP homopolymerization yields are far from being quantitative and the PDI values are rather high.

Significant progress was made with the development of ATRP, which made it possible to synthesize comb-shaped PEOs with controlled molar mass and narrow molar mass distributions. Polymerization yields were high, up to 95 % and molar mass distributions by 1.2. In addition the presence of water has been shown to have no deleterious effects on the ATRP process [46, 97-99].

If a -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer is submitted to free or controlled radical polymerization, the methacryloyl group alone should be involved in the polymerization process whereas the undecenyl group should not react. We submitted our undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers to a series of homopolymerization tests either by FRP or by ATRP as indicated in the experimental section. Typical SEC curves of Classical fractionation methods based on solvent / non solvent methods using toluene as a solvent and cyclohexane as precipitant revealed to be very efficient to isolate star-shaped PEOs obtained by grafting of PEO macromonomers onto POSS from the raw reaction product [20]. We finally decided to test also this fractionation method to isolate the comb-shaped

PEOs obtained by ATRP of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers. A typical

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SEC trace of a fractioned product is presented in Figure S19. Compared to the raw reaction product containing 60 wt.% of unreacted macromonomer, the amount of residual macromonomer could be reduced to 30 wt.% 3.8. Synthesis of -undecenyl-PEO star-shaped polymers via pentaerythritol tetrakis (3mercaptopropionate).

PEOs star-shaped polymers have gained increasing interest over the past thirty years. The main approaches to design star-shaped PEOs are based on "arm-first" or "core-first" strategies and have been extensively discussed in a recent review article published by Lapienis et al. [53]. In an "arm-first" strategy, star-shaped polymers are obtained upon grafting of functional linear polymers onto plurifunctional compounds decorated with antagonist functions. In the following, some preliminary results on the extension of the "arm-first" strategy to the grafting of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers onto pentaerythritol tetrakis(3mercaptopropionate) core molecules (named as tetra-thiol) via thiol-ene chemistry [103] will be presented. We tested first the thiol-ene click reaction of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with a tetra-thiol core molecule to access 4 arm star-shaped PEO molecules (Scheme S2). AIBN and DMPA were tested as initiators for the reaction. The SEC trace (not presented here) of the reaction product (after 36 h reaction time) corresponds exactly to that of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer. This seems to indicate that the undecenyl end-group of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO is not involved in the grafting reaction. Loubat As shown in the SEC trace (Fig. 7,) the raw reaction product contains different distributions corresponding probably to the different functionalities of the PEO star. To try to isolate a pure fraction, a preparative size exclusion chromatography with automated sample collection was performed (Fig. 8). We focused in this case on fraction 1 (pointed line) due to its narrow molar mass distribution, the high molar mass and the absence of side product with lower functionality. building blocks in macromolecular engineering As characteristic signal for the tetra-thiol the peak for the CH 2 group of the pentaerythritol core (signal e) was chosen. The 1 H NMR spectrum of the pure 4 arm fraction shows the complete disappearance of the methacryloyl double bond signals and the presence of the signal characteristic of the core molecule. Furthermore, the signal of the undecenyl double bond is still visible. Therefore, the reaction can be regarded successful.

Gladys Pozza

Additionally, the product was characterized by MALDI-TOF MS (Fig. S21). Due to the difficult ionization of the 4 arm product a high laser intensity must be used, resulting in a fragmentation of the star molecule. Therefore, in each measurement all species are visible. Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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bond can be utilized for subsequent reactions, e.g. for the attachment of dyes, cell penetrating peptides or sugar units enabling interesting applications in life sciences.

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

INTRODUCTION

Self-assembly of amphiphilic diblock copolymers, characterized by hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks, has attracted increasing interest due to their possibility to aggregate in selective solvents. 1,2 In aqueous solution, they may aggregate to form spherical, cylindrical or vesicular assemblies. These morphologies have been shown

to depend strongly on the molecular parameters such as the overall degree of polymerization and the composition of the copolymer. [3][4][5] Numerous applications were found for these materials, e.g. as tunable delivery vehicles, as templates for biomineralization, as nanoreactors or scaffolds for biological conjugation. 6 Copolymers of PEO and poly(diene)s form an important class of polymeric amphiphiles where the backbone unsaturation in the hydrophobic block enable further chemical modification after polymerization. 2,3 Poly(ethylene oxide)-bpoly(butadiene) 7 can form giant wormlike micelles that can be chemically cross-linked by treatment with radical sources in aqueous solution. These blocks can be crosslinked in aqueous solution by γ-irradiation to yield copolymer vesicles. 8 PI-b-PEO copolymers constituted of a hydrophobic polyisoprene (PI) sequence and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) PEO block represent one of the emerging classes of polymeric amphiphiles. They are of broad interest due to their high potential in micellization and their ability to self-organize in selective solvents into a wide variety of micellar aggregates. These copolymers were utilized in many applications. 5,9,10 The phase behavior and viscoelasticity of the PEO-PI-PEO mixed with AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate)/water/decane microemulsions was studied. 11 The water-in-oil microemulsions, in particular dispersions of water droplets coated with a monolayer of the anionic surfactant AOT, in n-decane with addition of these amphiphilic triblocks, form a transient network. 12 The phase state and dynamics of structure formation for a series of PI-b-PEO blocks copolymers using SAXS and rheology was investigated, 13 the phase diagram of binary blends of PI-b-PEO was experimentally determined 14 and the thermal and thermodynamic properties were investigated. 15 Gournis et al. investigated the structure of laponite/PEO and laponite/PEO-PI clay/block copolymer nanocomposites. 16 Core-double-shell systems characterized by complex onion-type architecture were synthesized by "grafting-onto" of block

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide) via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza copolymers, PI-b-PEO or PS-b-PEO, on polyphenylene dendrimers. 17 Heurtefeu et al. reported how micellar structures obtained by the self-assembly of PI-b-PMMA and PI-b-PEO block copolymers can be effectively used as organic supports for ethylene polymerization catalyzed by metallocene and post-metallocene catalysts. 18 Two approaches, based on sequential living anionic polymerization of isoprene and ethylene oxide, have been developed over the past 20 years to access PI-b-PEOs. 1,19 In the first case an -living PI was prepared by anionic polymerization, in cyclohexane or benzene, with sec-butyllithium or tert-butyllithium as initiator. After polymerization, the living chain-ends were deactivated by addition of EO / acetic acid to introduce hydroxyl functions at the chain-ends. In a second step, the hydroxyl chain-ends were deprotonated with cumyl potassium 9 or potassium naphthalide 13,14 followed by addition of EO for the AROP. The chain-ends of the resulting diblock copolymers were deactivated with acidic (HCl) methanol. 13,14 Block copolymers characterized by a narrow molar mass distribution and of a controlled chemical composition could be obtained. 9 Besides the two-step procedure described above, increasing efforts have been made

to design efficient approaches providing access to PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers in one step process. However the fact that the synthesis of PI chains characterized by high a 1,4-cis content has to be conducted in non-polar solvents with lithium as counter-ion poses some problems. If excess EO is added to -living PIs only an endgroup functionalization takes place without oligomerization or polymerization. This approach is based on the addition of additives such as cryptates or phosphazene bases. 20,21 If a tert-butyl phosphazene base (t-BuP 4 ) is added to a solution of -living polyisoprenyllithium chains 15,19 not only the O-Li aggregates are disrupted but free alcoholates are created. These free alcoholates are able to polymerize EO in THF even at room temperature. Typically, isoprene polymerization was initiated with secbutyllithium in benzene. After the isoprene polymerization, the carbanionic chainends are reacted with EO, whereupon O-Li + alcohaltes are generated, then t-BuP for the nitroxide-mediated free radical polymerization of isoprene. 2 Click chemistry was used in many cases to prepare block copolymers, e.g. the synthesis of cyclic PS-b-PI copolymers was performed via click chemistry of -acetylene--azido-PS-b-PI. 23 Isotactic PS-block-PEO (iPS-b-PEO) was synthesized via a thiol-ene click coupling reaction of vinyl-terminated isotactic PS with thiol-terminated PEO. 24 Triblock copolymers of PS-b-PEO-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) were obtained via combination single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) with "click" chemistry. 25 In this contribution, we propose a new approach to access PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers via a combination of living anionic polymerization and azide/alkyne cycloadditon. The synthesis via anionic polymerization, the end-functionalization and the detailed characterization of the -azido PIs will be discussed in the first part. The preparation of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification of -hydroxy--undecenyl PEOs will be presented in the same section.

The click reaction between -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomers and azido PIs in the presence of N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylene triamine and copper(I) bromide will be discussed in the final section. This reaction should lead to functional PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers decorated at the outer-end of the PEO block with a double bond which can be utilized for subsequent thio-click reactions, e.g., introducing sugar units or dyes. Almost no examples of such structures with a double bond at PEO chain-ends have been reported in the literature.

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EXPERIMENTAL

Materials

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (Aldrich), cyclohexane (Aldrich) and dichloromethane (Aldrich)

were purified by conventional methods and kept under argon atmosphere.

Dichloromethane (Carlo Erba), methanol (Carlo Erba), toluene (VWR), THF (Carlo Erba), THF without stabilizer (Aldrich), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (Aldrich, ACS Spectrophotometric Grade, 99.8%) and acetone (Carlo Erba) were used as received.

Isoprene was distilled over sodium and kept under nitrogen atmosphere. sec-

Buthyllithium (sec-buLi) (1.4 M in cyclohexane) (Aldrich), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl) (Aldrich 99%
), triethylamine (TEA) (Aldrich, 99.5%), sodium azide (NaN 3 ) (Aldrich, 99%), N,N,N',N',N''-pentamethyldiethylene triamine (PMDETA) (Aldrich, 99%) and propargyl bromide (Aldrich, 80 wt.% in toluene) were used as received.

Copper(I) bromide (CuBr) (Aldrich, 98%) was stirred 5 hours in acetic acid, filtered, washed with ethanol and dried in vacuum. Diphenylmethyl potassium (DPMK) was synthesized in the laboratory according to a well-established procedure. 26

Characterization

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC)

The absolute weight average molar mass (M w ) of the different PI samples was determined by SEC / online light scattering (SEC / LS) at room temperature (RT) on a Waters apparatus equipped with five PL gel columns (Polymer Laboratories Ltd), an autosampler Waters WISP 717, a differential refractometer Shimadzu RID 6A and a multi-angle laser light scattering (LS) detector Wyatt DAWN DSP (laser:  = 632.8 nm). The apparent number average molar mass (M n ), M w and the polydispersity index (PDI) value of the different PI samples were determined by SEC based on calibration with linear PS. THF with a flow rate of 1 mL min -1 was used as solvent.

Calibration was made with PS standards from Polymer Laboratories with molar masses (M n ) from 1 350 to 32 100 g mol -1 .

The apparent M n , M w and the PDI value of the different PEO and PI-b-PEO samples were determined by SEC at RT on a Shimadzu SIL-20A system controller with a LC-20AD pump, a RID-10A refractive index detector and a Shimadzu SPD 10 Avp UV detector. THF with a flow rate of 1 mL min -1 was used as solvent. Calibration was made with PEO standards from Polymer Laboratories with molar masses (M n ) from 7 190 to 22 800 g mol -1 .

1 H and 13 C NMR Solution NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker DRX 400 MHz in deuterated chloroform (CDCl 3 ).

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)

Spectroscopy was performed in the Attenuated Total Reflection Mode (ATR-FTIR) using a Vertex 70 spectrometer (Bruker, Germany) equipped with a DTGS detector and a single reflection diamond ATR accessory (A225/Q Platinum ATR, Bruker, Germany). Reference (air) and sample spectra were taken by collecting 20 interferograms between 500 and 3500 cm -1 using a Blackman-Harris three-term apodization and the standard Bruker OPUS/IR software (version 5.0).

MALDI-ToF MS

Synthesis

Synthesis of -hydroxy PI (PI-OH)

The polymerization of isoprene was carried out in a glass reactor (BüchiGlasUster "PicoClave" pressure reactor). Cyclohexane (100 mL) was introduced in the reactor and the sec-BuLi solution was added (2.8 mmol, 2 mL). The temperature was decreased to 10 °C and isoprene (2.8 mmol, 14 g, 20.58 mL) was added. The reactor

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was heated at 40 °C for 2 hours. PI-OH was formed by reaction of ethylene oxide (in excess over the initiator concentration) on the living PI chain-ends The reaction was stirred over night at 20 °C and the living PI-CH 2 CH 2 OLi chain-ends were deactivated with methanol (containing a few drops of acetic acid). The solvent was evaporated and the polymer was dissolved in toluene to be centrifuged to remove the salts.

Subsequently the toluene was evaporated. The resulting polymer was dissolved in THF, precipitated in methanol, filtered, dried and characterized by SEC, 1 H and 13 C NMR, FTIR and MALDI-ToF MS.

Synthesis of -tosyl PI (PI-Ts)

PI 3 -OH (7 100 g mol -1 , 2 g, 2.81  10 -4 mol) was dissolved in 5 mL of anhydrous CH 2 Cl 2 under argon and TEA (10 eq., 0.39 mL, 2.81  10 -3 mol) was added. The solution was cooled to 0 °C and TsCl (10 eq., 0.537 g, 2.81  10 -3 mol) was added.

The solution was left to stir overnight at RT. The polymer was purified as before and by preparative SEC using Bio-Beads® in CH 2 Cl 2 and was characterized by 1 Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide) via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

polymer solutions were centrifuged in toluene. The solvent was evaporated. The resulting polymer was dissolved in THF, precipitated in diethyl ether, filtered, dried and characterized by SEC and 1 H NMR. 1

Synthesis of (PI-b-PEO) via click chemistry

PI-N 3 (7 700 g mol -1 , 1 g, 1.29  10 -4 mol) was dissolved in 20 mL of THF. PEO (5 800 g mol -1 , 0.75 g, 1.29  10 -4 mol) and CuBr (5 eq., 6.49  10 -4 mol, 0.093 g) were added. Oxygen was removed from the solution by three freeze-pump-thaw cycles.

PMDETA was added. (5 eq., 6.49  10 -4 mol, 0.135 mL). The reaction was stirred for 24 hours at RT. Afterwards, the solvent was evaporated. The resulting polymer was dissolved in THF, precipitated in cold acetone and dried. This operation was repeated 3 times. The resulting polymer was characterized by SEC and purified by preparative SEC using Bio-Beads® in THF. The polymer fraction was characterized

RESULTS AND DISCUSSSION

Synthesis of -azido PI (PI-N 3 )

The preparation of PI, requires the use of organolithium initiators and hydrocarbon solvents whereas the anionic ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide proceeds in the presence of potassium organic initiators and polar solvents. The reaction of organolithium initiators in nonpolar media with EO does not permit the polymerization of EO. 27 The reason for the two-step procedure for the preparation of PI-b-PEO is the tendency of living PEO chain-ends to strongly aggregate with Li + , forming ion pairs that terminate chain propagation. This prevents polymerization of the second block by addition of ethylene oxide to the living PI block. 19 This method is used for the preparation of -hydroxy PI. Several PI-OH were prepared by anionic polymerization of isoprene (Scheme 1). The molar masses and PDI values of the PI samples determined by SEC / LS and 1 H NMR are collected in Table 1.

Scheme 1. Schematic representation of the synthesis of -hydroxyl PIs via anionic polymerization. The M n and M w values by SEC / LS are in good agreements with the theoretical values. The polydispersity is around 1.05. The microstructure of the PI-OH was studied by 1 H and 13 C NMR in CDCl 3 . Typical spectra are presented in Figure 1 and 2. As expected, for isoprene polymerization conducted in non-polar solvent, the sample is characterized by the presence of a majority of 1,4-isomers and, in small quantity, of 3,4-and 1,2-isomers (less than 10%, determined by 1 H NMR). 28,29 In the FTIR spectra, characteristic peaks of the S=O groups are present at 1180 cm -1 (Figure 3, PI-Ts).

Gladys Pozza

For further functionalization, the tosyl groups were transformed in azide groups (Scheme 3) as described in experimental section. Scheme 3. Schematic representation of the synthesis of -azido PIs.

The resulting functional PIs were characterized by SEC to verify the absence of coupling products (not presented here). In most cases, the M n values obtained by SEC / LS are in good agreement with the expected data.

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide) via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza ), indicating the presence of an azide group at the PI chain-end.

In the FTIR spectra, characteristic peaks of the S=O groups disappear at 1180 cm - 1 (Figure 3, PI-Ts) and at 2110 cm -1 , the peak of the N 3 groups appears (Figure 3, PI-N 3 ).

Synthesis of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO

PEO is a hydrophilic polymer with outstanding biocompatibility. PEOs are used as building blocks for a large number of complex macromolecular architectures designed for various applications. 34 -Hydroxy--undecenyl PEOs were obtained by AROP of ethylene oxide using potassium undecenolate initiator according to a wellestablished procedure. 34 The possibility to access modified -hydroxy chain-ends 25,35 by acetylene groups in the presence of sodium hydride or DPMK was already demonstrated. As a consequence -undecenyl--acetylene PEO can be obtained.

We selected an approach derived from the "chain-end functionalization" method 36 to prepare the -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs starting from -undecenyl--hydroxy

PEOs after modification of the chain-ends with DPMK followed by the addition of propargyl bromide (Scheme 4).

INTRODUCTION

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a water soluble polymer with outstanding properties and is the building block for a large number of macromolecular architectures designed for various applications. [1][2][3] PEO macromonomers are accessible either via anionic ring opening polymerization (AROP) of ethylene oxide in the presence of a heterofunctional unsaturated initiator or by chain-end modification of already existing PEOs. [4][5][6] Typically -allyl PEO or -diallyl PEO macromonomers are obtained upon reaction of hydroxyl PEOs with allylbromide after transformation of the end-standing hydroxyl function into an alcoholate by reaction with a stoichiometric amount of diphenylmethyl potassium (DPMK), 7 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 8,9 or sodium. 10 The interest for PEO macromonomers characterized by the presence of a flexible hydrophobic spacer between the terminal double bond and the PEO chain-end can be explained by the increased accessibility of the terminal double bonds. This would, in addition, enhance the amphiphilic character of the end-modified PEO. Preliminary attempts to synthesize -undecenyl PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification of existing PEOs based on the DPMK approach 11 failed. An explanation might be the occurrence of side reactions occurring during the metallation process. This stimulated us to search for more efficient ways to design PEO macromonomers, quantitatively fitted at least at one chainend with undecenyl end-groups. The use of NaH has proven to be efficient for the chain-end functionalization of PEOs. 2,12 PEOs or PEO-based star-shaped polymers covering a large range of molar masses and constituted of cores of different chemical nature and functionalities are accessible with a range of approaches. 13 PEOs stars are of great interest as surface-modifying agents to improve the biocompatibility of surfaces designed for biomedical applications [13][14][15] or as building block for the synthesis of functional PEO hydrogels. 16 Tailor-made heretofucntional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

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Living anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide has been used for the preparation of a series of 4-arm, 8-arm, and 16-arm PEO stars starting from carbosilane dendrimers after appropriate modification of the hydroxy functions into alcoholate. 17 Eight-arm PEO stars can be also obtained via AROP of ethylene oxide in the presence of other octahydroxylated precursors. 18 Multiarm PEO-star polymers, 19 with a purely aliphatic polyether structure have been synthesized in a direct 'grafting from' polymerization of ethylene oxide using hyperbranched polyglycerol with different molar masses as a multifunctional initiator. The hydroxyl end-groups. 20 The synthesis of dendrimer-like polymers is based on the combination of the AROP of ethylene oxide with three alcoholate functions as initiator and by branching reactions of PEO chain-ends that were repeated several times. 21 Only a few examples of hybrid materials based on PEO and Polyhedral Oligomeric Silesquioxanes (POSS) have been presented and discussed in the literature. POSS are three dimensional nanometer-sized species and represent interesting reactive building block for the elaboration of organic-inorganic materials including hybrid macromolecular architectures. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] The different ways, by copolymerization or grafting, to incorporate these POSS structures in polymers and the properties of the resulting hybrid materials have been discussed recently by S.-W. Kuo et al.. 26 PEOs based on POSS may represent new water-soluble materials characterized by enhanced thermal and thermomechanical stability, mechanical toughness or optical transparency. 11,29 A few years ago monosubstituted cube-shaped spherosilsesquioxanes with amphiphilic properties, combining the relatively hydrophobic spherosilsesquioxane core with hydrophilic PEO segments 30 could be prepared.

In this contribution, we discuss first the synthesis and the characterization of a series of heterofunctional -methoxy--undecenyl PEO macromonomers, decorated with undecenyl end-groups by chain-end modification of commercial -methoxy--hydroxy PEOs with 11bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH. The second section will focus on the coupling of the -methoxy--undecenyl PEOs with octafunctional silsesquioxanes Q8M8 H via hydrosilylation to yield star-shaped PEOs. The PEO star-shaped polymers will be investigated in detail by different physico-chemical characterization methods. was utilized without further purification. Commercial PEOs were received as a gift from Clariant (molar masses of 1000, 1700, 4700 and 10900 g mol -1 for the-methoxy--hydroxy and 6000 g mol -1 for the,-dihydroxy PEO). The functionalization and hydrosilylation reactions were conducted in classical glass vessels under a slight argon pressure.

Characterization techniques.

Number average molar mass (Mn), weight average molar mass (Mw) and the polydispersity index (PDI) value of the different PEO samples were determined by SEC at RT on a Shimadzu SIL-20A system controller with a LC-20AD pump, a RID-10A refractive index detector and a Shimadzu SPD 10 Avp UV detector. THF with a flow rate of 1 mL min -1 was used as solvent. Calibration was made with PEO standards from Polymer Laboratories with molar masses from 194 to 22800 g mol -1 ).

The static light scattering (SLS) measurements were carried out with a red He-Ne laser with a wavelength of   = 632.8 nm, a discrete-angle goniometer acting within the range from 20° to 155°, a Hamamatsu type photomultiplier as the detector, a photo-counting device and a toluene matching bath. 32 To determine the absolute molar mass of a polymer by static light scattering, the exact value of dn/dc is a prerequisite an essential parameter. The dn/dc of -methoxy--undecenyl PEO in methanol solutions was measured by using a Wyatt Optilab Rex refractometer at a wavelength of 670 nm. Dn/dc of -methoxy--undecenyl PEO solution in methanol is equal to 0.150 mL g -1 at 25 °C.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy: Solution 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and 29 Si NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker DRX 400 MHz in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3). UV-visible spectroscopy was achieved on a VARIAN CARY 500 SCAN SPECTROPHOTOMETER with ethanol as solvent. Low concentrations of PEO were chosen

Tailor-made heretofucntional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza (7  10 -2 to 2  10 -1 g L -1 ) to ensure the validity of the Beer's law. The optical path-length of the cell was 1 cm. A calibration curve was established using 1-naphthyl carbamate with an absorption-maximum ( max) observed at 291 nm and an extinction coefficient of 7060 mol -1 cm -1 .

Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) experiments were performed with a diffractometer developed by Molecular Metrology (Elexience in France) that uses a Rigaku Micromax 007HF generator with a copper-rotating anode. The wavelength of the incident X-ray beam is = 0.154 nm. This diffractometer operates with a pinhole collimation of the X-ray beam focused by a multilayer optic designed by Osmic and a two-dimensional gas-filled multiwire detector. The sample-detector distance was set at D = 0.7 m, leading to a range of scattering vectors covered by the experiment 0.001 < q < 0.032 nm -1 . The scattering vector q is defined by q = (4π/)  sin(/2), where  is the wavelength of the incident beam and , the scattering angle. Cells of 1 mm thickness and calibrated Mica windows were used as sample holders.

Measurements were performed at room temperature.

A Perkin Elmer Diamond Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) using stainless steel capsules under nitrogen atmosphere was used to determine thermal transitions. All the samples were dried under vacuum overnight before measurement. To remove any previous thermal history, all samples were heated up to 100 °C with a fast heating rate of 20 °C min -1 and held for 1 min, and then quenched to 0 or -60 °C. A heating rate of 10 °C min -1 was used in the both first cases then a heating rate of 5 °C min -1 .

The microscopy pictures were taken with a crossed polarized optical microscopy (Leica DMR-X microscope).

Synthesis of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers by deactivation with 11-bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH.

The commercial-methoxy--hydroxy PEO (Mn,SEC = 1700 g mol -1 , 10 g, 5.

CH2(CH2)7CH2CH=CH2), 1.1-1.3 (m, 2H*7, CH2(CH2)7CH2CH=CH2).
PEO star-shaped polymer (Q8M8 PEO ).

Several conditions experimental conditions were tested for the grafting reactions. The Karstedt catalyst (0.05 M) was used either as so or diluted to 5 × 10 -4 M or 2 × 10 -3 M solution in anhydrous toluene. The reaction was conducted either at 40 or 80 °C for reaction times of 2 or 24 h, under air or inert atmosphere.

56.5 mg of Q8M8 H (0.05 mmol) and 1 g of an -methoxy--undecenyl PEO macromonomer (Mn,SEC = 1800 g mol -1 , 0.55 mmol) were dissolved in 0.7 mL of toluene (1 g for a total volume of 2.2 mL). 0.5 mL of a 5 × 10 -4 M Karstedt catalyst solution in toluene was added under atmosphere. The reaction mixture was kept at 40 °C for 2 h (see star 1 in Table 2). If not specified 1 g PEO was used. The reaction was repeated under argon first with 0.5 mL (star 3)

and then 1 mL (star 4) of a 5 × 10 (Si(CH3)2CH2CH2), 17.4 (Si(CH3)2CH2), 0.6 (Si(CH3)2).). 29 Si NMR (CDCl3, 400

MHz): 12.55 (PEO-Si-), -108 (Si-O4). IFTIR spectrum (ATR, cm -1 ): 2880 ( CH), 1467 (CH2), 1100 ( CO).

Fractionation of PEO star-shaped polymers.

Fractional precipitation was carried out in a tempered water circulating bath. The raw reaction product was dissolved in toluene in a conventional pear-like vessel (example 0.95 g in 60 mL of toluene at T = 25 °C). Cyclohexane was added drop by drop from a burette until the medium becomes turbid. At that point the turbid solution is heated until the turbidity had vanished. The temperature is decreased to 25 °C, and the solution was kept at that temperature during 24 hours. The lower phase should contain the Q8H8 PEO and the upper one the unreacted

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Synthesis of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers by deactivation with 11-bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH.

As described in the experimental section, a series of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers were prepared by chain-end modification of commercial -methoxy--hydroxy PEOs (Mn,SEC = 1000-1700-4600-10900 g mol -1 ) or -hydro--hydroxy PEOs (Mn,SEC = 6000 g mol -1 ) with 11-bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH (Scheme 1). 2 The molecular characteristics of the precursor samples and of the resulting PEO macromonomers, determined by SEC and 1 H NMR, are collected in Table 1. A typical SEC diagram is also presented in Figure S5 (link to Supporting Information section). S7). As expected, the molar mass of the -undecenyl PEO is higher compared to that of the precursor PEO. A difference of m/z of 152 could be noted, which confirms the presence of the undecenyl group and the almost quantitative functionalization of the PEOs. For the bifunctional PEO, a difference of m/z of 304 is observed. For the MALDI-ToF MS in Figure S7, a "minor" distribution is visible. The distribution corresponds to the "protonated" but neither to the "sodiated" -undecenyl PEO, nor the unfunctionalized PEOs.

To determine the detection limit of -methoxy--hydroxy PEOs by MALDI-ToF MS, 5, 10, 20 or 30 wt % of an -methoxy--hydroxy PEO were added to a selected -methoxy-undecenyl PEO (Mn,SEC = of 1800 g mol -1 ). The presence of the -methoxy--hydroxy PEO in all contaminated samples could be confirmed by the clearly detected second distribution. Two typical MALDI-ToF MS spectra of the samples (Mn = 1800 g mol -1 ) containing 5 and 20 wt % of -methoxy--hydroxy PEO are presented in Figure S8. To determine the amount of contamination by 1 H NMR, we used the ratio of the integrals for the peak at 5.1 ppm (double bond) and the peak at 3.3 ppm (CH3). These measurements attested the presence of methoxy--hydroxy PEO for the samples contaminated with 10, 20 and 30 wt %. This is not the case for the 5 wt % sample. As a result, contaminations less than 10 wt % are not detectable by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. In conclusion, the chain-end modification of methoxy--hydroxy PEOs or -hydro--hydroxy PEOs with 11-bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH represents a simple and efficient approach to decorate almost quantitatively PEOs with undecenyl end-groups. The reaction can be conducted in the absence of solvent.

No degradation of the PEO chain takes places during the functionalization process as demonstrated by SEC and MALDI-ToF MS PEO star-shaped polymers prepared with -undecenyl PEO macromonomers (Q8M8 PEO ).

Branched PEOs such as comb-shaped polymers, 33 star-shaped polymers, 13,34 hyperbranched polymers, 35 and dendrimers 13 have attracted much attention in the past thirty years since they constitute interesting species for physicochemical studies and can serve as building blocks for materials designed for many applications. A precise control of the functionality and the armlength constitutes in most cases a prerequisite. In addition, the higher the functionality of the star-shaped polymers the better the solubility in water provided the molar masses of the water-soluble PEO branches are sufficiently high. This can be explained by the protecting effect exerted in water by the PEO chains. Recently we 11 Number average molar mass of the PEO stars calculated taking into account the molar mass of the branch, the core and assuming a functionality of 8: 15417 g mol -1 a) Weight average molar mass of the PEO stars, measured by SEC, calibration with linear PEOs.

b) Number average molar mass of the PEO stars, measured by SEC, calibration with linear PEOs.

c) PDI of the PEO stars (MW /Mn) determined by SEC in THF.

For the hydrosilylation reaction (star 1) carried out in the presence of oxygen, the SEC trace of the resulting product shows two well separated peaks (Figure 1), one at low volume elution as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza corresponding to the Q8M8 PEO and second at higher volume elution attributed to unreacted macromonomer introduced. 30 wt % of Q8M8 PEO were obtained. 2, star 2). We tested also a diluted solution of the Karstedt catalyst (0.5 mL or 1 mL at 5 × 10 -4 M). The SEC result confirmed the presence of two peaks corresponding, respectively, to the unreacted macromonomer and to the star-shaped PEO. 30 wt % of Q8M8 PEO were obtained (star 3 and 4).

If one increases the catalyst concentration from 5 × 10 -4 M to 2 × 10 -3 M (0.15 mL) even better results are obtained. In this case 50 wt % of Q8M8 PEO were obtained (star 5). However, increasing the reaction time for the same catalyst concentration does not yield to high grafting yields (star 6). We decided then to increase the reaction temperature from 40 to 80 °C. Under these conditions (1 g PEO in 5 mL of toluene, 0.15 mL of a solution of the Karstedt catalyst

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in alpha and beta of Si respectively due at the unsaturated carbons of the undecenyl group on the silsesquioxane core.

The 13 Si NMR allows the detection of the peak of Si groups. In Figure 4 The intense peak characteristics of the SiH bond of Q8M8 H is not present on the FTIR spectrum of Q8M8 PEO (Figure 5). However, the characteristic peaks of PEO can be observed in the spectrum. The Q8M8 H is completely surrounded by PEO chains. This is partially due to the shielding of PEO and POSS represents only 6 wt % in weight in the star-shaped PEO. and can be assigned to the PEO macromonomer. A peak-to-peak mass increment of 44 corresponding to the molar mass of one ethylene oxide unit can be observed. However, the SEC and NMR measurements show the absence of PEO precursor. We assume that due to the difficult ionization of the Q8M8 PEO a high laser intensity must be used, resulting in a as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza fragmentation of the star molecule. However, it is unclear whether the seven-armed PEO (peak B2), which was detected by MALDI-ToF MS, has been formed during the synthesis or results from a cleavage of the Q8M8 PEO PEO under the MALDI conditions. SAXS measurements are used in reference 42 to obtain information about the structure of polystyrene stars as well as PMMA dendritic branched polymers. Specifically, they yield the average size and shape, or the internal structure, of these macromolecules. SAXS measurements also allowed to study the average structure of the styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymers modified with POSS. 43 Here, we present their use for characterizing the average conformation of the prepared PEO star-branched macromolecules.

Data were treated according to a standard procedure for isotropic SAXS. After radial averaging, spectra were corrected from the electronic noise of the detector, empty cell, absorption and sample thickness. A [START_REF] Wilms | Hyperbranched PEG by Random Copolymerization of Ethylene Oxide and Glycidol[END_REF] Ir source was used for the corrections of geometrical factors and detector cells efficiency. A Silver Behenate sample allowed the q-calibration and the normalization to the unit incident flux was obtained using Lupolen as standard sample.

Finally, the scattered intensities were corrected from the scattering of the solvent. According to such a procedure, a scattered intensity per unit volume I(q) (cm -1 ) containing all the structural information is obtained for each polymer solution in methanol. Actually, I(q) is the sum of an intramolecular term and an intermolecular one. [44][45][46] I(q) = K 2 cN [g1(q) + cg2(q)] (

K (cm) is the contrast length of the ethylene oxide monomers with respect to the solvent; K 2 (cm 2 ), the contrast factor; c (mol cm -3 ), the concentration of the polymer solution; N, Avogadro's number (mol -1 ). g1(q) is the form factor; g2(q), the intermolecular correlation function.

The scattered intensities measured from several solutions of distinct concentrations (as c = 2.043 × 10 -4 , 4.086 × 10 -4 and 6.129 × 10 -4 mol cm -3 for the PEO stars Q8M8 PEO ), in the dilute regime (c < c*; c* being the critical overlap concentration of the macromolecules), allow separating out the intra-and intermolecular terms. Specifically, as suggested by Eq. ( 1), the extrapolation to c = 0 of I(q)/K 2 cN yields the form factor g1(q) = NP(q). N is the degree of polymerization of macromolecules, P(q) their form factor normalized in such a way as P(0) = 1. Accounting for polydispersity, it is actually the weight average of the form factor, <g1(q)>w that is determined. <g1(q)>w = Nw<P(q)>z (2

)
Where Nw is the weight average of the polymerization degree; <P(q)>z, the z-average of the form factor P(q).

At small q values, in the Guinier range qRg < 1 where Rg is the radius of gyration of the macromolecules, a series expansion of the form factor leads to:

1/g1(q) = (1/Nw) [1 + q 2 <Rg 2 >z/3 + o(q2)]

The form factors of both the PEO stars Q8M8 PEO and the PEO linear macromolecules corresponding to their arms are shown in Figure 7. The form factor of PEO arms is characteristic of that of a linear polymer. [44][45][46] At small q values, we observe a plateau and its

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height corresponds to the average degree of polymerization Nw = 38. Beyond the Guinier range, the form factor can be described by a scaling law (g1(q)q -1.55 ) close to the one characterizing the internal structure of a linear macromolecule in a good solvent (g1(q)q -1.7 ).

In contrast, the form factor of PEO stars displays two successive scaling laws beyond the Guinier range. This scattering behavior is characteristic of a star-branched polymer. At high q-values the form factor is superimposed to that of PEO arms, displaying a similar scaling law. In the intermediate q-range, it is described by another scaling law (g1(q)q -3.02 ) with an exponent that is close to the double of the one of the scaling law observed at high q-values.

The crossover in between these scaling laws occurs at q = 1/(R), where (R) is the size of the largest blob in the Daoud-Cotton model of star-branched macromolecules of geometric radius R. 45,[47][48][49][50][51] With the relationship (R) = Rf -1/2 , we obtain R = 1.2 nm since the number of arms of PEO stars is f = 8. In the Guinier range, we observe a plateau which leads to Nw = 450. The polymerization degrees and radii of gyration of both PEO arms and PEO stars were also determined by fitting the form factors to the Debye function gD(q) and the Benoît function gB(q), respectively, in the q-range qRg < 3. These fits are shown in Figure 8. They provide N = 42.8 and Rg = 1.71 nm for PEO arms; N = 489.3 and Rg = 3.78 nm for PEO stars.

The Debye function, which describes the form factor of a Gaussian chain of radius of gyration Rg, is:

gD(q) = (2N/x 2 ) [x -1 + exp(-x)] ( 4
)
Where N is the degree of polymerization and x = q 2 Rg 2 .

The Benoît function, which describes the form factor of a Gaussian star-branched polymer of radius of gyration Rg, is: gB(q) = (2N/x 2 ) [(f/2)(f-1)exp(-2x/f) -f(f-2)exp(-x/f) + x+ (f/2)(f-3)] ( 5)

N and f are the degree of polymerization and the number of arms of the star, respectively; x = (q 2 Rg 2 )[f 2 /(3f-2)] this time. Similar results were obtained using the Zimm representation of the data (1/g1(q) versus q 2 ) and Eq. ( 3), in the Guinier range qRg < 1.

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Finally, the Kratky representation of the PEO arm and star form factors are presented in Figure 9. It emphasizes the increase in the internal density for star-branched polymers with respect to linear ones. 51 In this representation, a maximum thus appears for the PEO star form factor at a q value, which depends on the radius of gyration Rg and the functionality f. With f = 8, it appears at qRg = 2.13. 45 This leads to Rg = 4.2 nm, in agreement with the Rg values previously determined for PEO stars using either a fit to the Benoît function in the q-range qRg < 3, or the Zimm representation with Eq. ( 9) in the Guinier range qRg < 1. The incorporation of the POSS should improve into polymers the thermal stability compared to unmodified PEO polymers. 10 POSS are known for their thermal stability. 25 We investigated first the thermal properties by DSC. The thermal properties of the -allyl and -undecenyl-functional PEOs and Q8M8 PEO were studied by DSC. The crystallization temperatures (Tc) and the melting temperatures (Tm) were taken as the temperatures of the minima and the maxima of both exothermic and endothermic peaks, respectively and the values are noted in the Table 3. Data were gathered on the second heating runs with scan rates of 10 °C min -1 . Linear PEOs were characterized by DSC measurements; the Tm values increased with the molar mass. In the literature, the Tm value of 53.8 °C is obtained for the ,-dihydroxy PEO (2000 g mol -1 ) 52 For -methoxy--hydroxy PEO precursors, the Tm value is 56.3 °C. Compared with -allyl PEO, no variations could be observed due at the short chain-end. With -undecenyl PEO a second peak during the heating is visible, maybe caused by the hydrophobic part of undecenyl groups of the PEO. For the Tc values, the temperature of -methoxy--hydroxy PEO precursor are 37.6 °C, 34.4 °C for -allyl PEO and 27.9 °C for-undecenyl PEO, respectively. This difference can be explained by the presence of a flexible spacer between the double bond and the PEO chain.

This spacer requires more times to organize during the crystallization. Concerning the star compounds, the spacer has the same effect, the Tc value of allyl Q8M8 PEO is 28.8 °C and 38.2 °C for undecenyl Q8M8 PEO . The crystallization is observed in crossed polarized optical microscopy. The Figure 10 represents the crystallization of different compounds: -Undecenyl PEO and Q8M8 PEO .

Tailor-made heretofucntional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

Compared to the -undecenyl PEO, on the image of the Q8M8 PEO the existence of spherulites can be observed. The -undecenyl PEO to crystallize at 39.8 °C after 4.33 min cooling. For Q8M8 PEO this value is decreased to 38.5 °C after 4 min. Q8M8 PEO takes more time to organize in crystals, this difference is caused by the structure of the star and by the presence of (CH2)9

spacer. The total crystallization of -undecenyl PEO is observed after T = 5.4 min at 36 °C and for Q8M8 PEO after T = 6.2 min at 33 °C.

General conclusion

Since many years extensive research has been devoted to PEO macromonomers. They represent valuable intermediates in macromolecular engineering, used for the synthesis of macromolecular architectures such as graft copolymers or cross-linked materials, and they can used in a wide range of applications. PEO is a water soluble, uncharged polymer, neutral, non-toxic. The presence of -CH 2 -CH 2 -groups generates some degree of hydrophobicity allowing PEO to be soluble in some organic solvents. This provides the possibility to perform synthetic reactions, including polymerizations and phase transfer catalysis, in a broad range of polar and non-polar solvents. As PEO is not recognized by the immune system, materials constituted of PEO incorporated in network structures or grafted onto surface are often used in health care applications, for body care (cream, shampoos), building materials, drug delivery as well as tablet binders.

The aim of the thesis was the controlled synthesis and the characterization of complex For the same samples, the functionality was determined by 1 H NMR measurements in CDCl3.

A typical 1 H NMR spectrum is presented in distribution is observed for the PEO of molar mass 1700 g mol -1 . This "minor" distribution is not present in the chain-end modified PEO samples prepared from precursors of higher molar masses or from the bifunctional precursor of a molar mass of 6000 g mol -1 . These results confirm a nearly quantitative functionalization of the PEO chain-ends. Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

1. 1 . 8 PEO:

 18 Introduction générale ............................................................................................................................ xxvii 1.2. Préparation de POE et de macromonomère de POE ............................................................................... xxx 1.2.1. POE -méthoxy--allyle ............................................................................................................ xxx 1.2.2. POE-méthoxy--undécènyle ................................................................................................. xxxi 1.2.3. POE -undécènyle--hydroxy .................................................................................................. xxxi 1.2.4. POE -undécènyle--méthacrylate ......................................................................................... xxxii 1.2.5. POE -undécènyle--acétylène ............................................................................................... xxxiii 1.3. Préparation de diverses architectures macromoléculaires à base de POE ........................................... xxxiv 1.3.1. A partir de POE -undécènyle--méthacrylate ....................................................................... xxxiv 1.3.2. Copolymère à block PI-b-POE .................................................................................................. xxxvi 1.3.3. POE à structure en étoile à huit branches ............................................................................. xxxviii 1.4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ xlii GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ XLVII CHAPTER 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 53 1.1. Polymers and polymerization process ...................................................................................................... 55 1.1.1. History of polymers .................................................................................................................... 55 1.1.2. Principle of polymerization ......................................................................................................... 56 1.1.3. Anionic polymerization ............................................................................................................... 59 1.1.4. Polymerization of ethylene oxide ............................................................................................... 62 1.2. Macromonomers ...................................................................................................................................... 71 1.2.1. General introduction .................................................................................................................. 71 1.2.2. Poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers ....................................................................................... 71 1.3. Polyisoprene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) ....................................................................................................... 83 1.3.1. Synthesis ..................................................................................................................................... 84 1.3.2. Synthesis via click chemistry ....................................................................................................... 85 1.4. PEO star-shaped polymers and silsesquioxanes ....................................................................................... 87 xvi Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Table of content xvii Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza PEG: Poly(ethylene glycol) PEGMA: Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate PEO: Poly(ethylene oxide) PHBP: Propargyl 2-hydroxylmethyl-2-(-bromoisobutyraloxymethyl)-propionate PI: Polyisoprene PI-b-PEO: Polyisopene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) PI-N 3 : -Azido polyisoprene PI-OH: -Hydroxy polyisoprene PI-Ts:-Tosyl polyisoprene PMDETA: N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine PMMA: Poly(methyl methacrylate) PEO star-shaped polymer with octakis(dimethylsilyloxy)silsesquioxane core SAXS: Small angle X-ray scattering sec-BuLi: Sec-butyllithium SEC: Size exclusion chromatography SLS: Static light scattering tBu-P 4 générale Le poly(oxyde d'éthylène) (POE) est un polymère hydrosoluble largement utilisé, tel quel ou associé à d'autres polymères, dans de nombreuses applications. Il peut être modifié facilement. Il n'est pas toxique et n'est pas reconnu par le système immunitaire. Il se caractérise par une bonne hémo et biocompatibilité. Incorporé dans les structures de réseau ou greffé sur des surfaces, le POE et les matériaux à base de POE se prêtent bien à des applications biomédicales très diverses. Le POE constitue également une brique élémentaire de choix pour l'élaboration d'architectures macromoléculaires complexes. Le premier chapitre de la thèse sera consacré à une discussion très générale, à partir de données bibliographiques, sur l'oxyde d'éthylène, sa polymérisation et les principales caractéristiques du POE. Dans le même chapitre, les différentes méthodes de polymérisation seront rappelées brièvement. Une attention particulière sera portée à la méthode de polymérisation anionique et plus particulièrement à la polymérisation anionique par ouverture de cycle (PAOC) de l'oxyde d'éthylène. Les différents amorceurs permettant d'accéder par PAOC à des POEs linéaires de masse molaire parfaitement contrôlée et caractérisés par une distribution de masse molaire étroite seront présentés. La PAOC de l'oxyde d'éthylène fait en général appel à un alcoolate potassique obtenu par réaction entre un alcool avec une base forte. L'utilisation de cryptants, d'une base phosphazène ou de complexes d'aluminium lors de la PAOC de l'oxyde d'éthylène sera aussi discutée. La présence de ces additifs permet en effet de polymériser l'oxyde d'éthylène y compris lorsque l'on fait appel à un amorceur ou macroamorceur lithié.

  point sera rediscuté plus loin dans le texte. De nombreux travaux ont été également consacrés à la synthèse de POE à structure en peigne par polymérisation radicalaire (contrôlée) de macromonomères de POE monfonctionnels. Les espèces ramifiées ainsi obtenues se caractérisent par une densité en segment très élevée, puisque chaque unité monomère de la chaîne principale porte un greffon. Quelques exemples de ces diverses structures ramifiées à base de POE seront discutés dans le premier chapitre Les travaux déjà réalisés sur la synthèse de copolymères à blocs linéaires dotés d'une séquence (ou de deux séquences POE) associée(s) à une ou plusieurs séquences polyisoprène y seront également relatés brièvement. Les copolymères à blocs poly(isoprèneb-poly(oxyde d'éthylène) (PI-b-POE) sont d'un grand intérêt en raison de leur aptitude à s'auto-organiser sous forme d' agrégats micellaires dans des solvants sélectifs. Ils sont utilisés dans diverses applications, par exemple comme support organique de catalyseur pour la polymérisation d'éthylène ou pour la synthèse de polymères dendritiques. La synthèse de PI-b-POE peut être réalisée selon deux approches. On peut soit préparer d'abord un PI -carbanionique par polymérisation anionique en faisant appel à un amorceur comme le sec-butyl lithium (sec-BuLi). Les extrémités de chaîne du PI sont ensuite désactivées par l'addition d'oxyde d'éthylène pour introduire des fonctions alcools. Ces dernières sont ensuite activées par addition, en général, de diphénylméthyl potassium (DPMK). L'alcoolate potassique ainsi créé sera ensuite utilisé pour amorcer la polymérisation anionique d'oxyde d'éthylène. La deuxième approche repose sur l'utilisation d'une base phosphazène de type tert-butyle (t-BuP 4 ) lors de la polymérisation de l'oxyde d'éthylène, amorcée par l'alcoolate créé en extrémité de chaîne du PI. Une dernière partie de ce premier chapitre sera consacrée à des remarques très générales sur les étoiles de POE, les Polyhedral Oligomeric SilSesquioxane (POSS) et les matériaux organique-inorganiques hybrides obtenus en associant le POE et les POSS. Les POEs à structure en étoile constituent une classe de matériaux particulièrement prometteurs. Ils représentent des modèles de choix pour les études physico-chimiques et peuvent servir des briques élémentaires bien définies pour la synthèse d'hydrogels fonctionnels. Ils sont d'un grand intérêt également dans un large nombre d'applications biomédicales et pharmaceutiques. Ils peuvent également servir d'agents de modification de surface pour améliorer la biocompatibilité de surfaces. Plusieurs approches, basées sur la polymérisation anionique de l'oxyde d'éthylène, ont été développés pour accéder à des étoiles de POE. La méthode « core-first » et la méthode « arm-first » sont les plus utilisées. Peu de travaux ont cependant été consacrés à des étoiles de POE hybride inorganiques / organiques. Des étoiles de POE dotés de coeur silesquioxanes pourraient constituer de nouveaux matériaux caractérisés d'une part par une plus grande stabilité thermique et thermomécanique et d'autre part par une meilleure résistance mécanique. La synthèse de ce type d'étoile de POE constituait un des objectifs principaux de cette thèse Quelques exemples représentatifs d'architectures à base de POE préparées dans le cadre de ma thèse sont illustrés ci-dessous :

Schéma 1

 1 Représentation schématique d'architectures à base de POE 1.2. Préparation de POE et de macromonomère de POE Les chapitres suivants de la thèse porteront sur la synthèse et la caractérisation de macromonomères de POE -méthoxy--allyle, -méthoxy--undécènyle,-undécènyle-hydroxy, -undécènyle--méthacrylate et -undécènyle--acétylène. La synthèse de macromonomères de POE peut être réalisée soit par modification des extrémités de chaînes de POE à l'aide d'un composé hétérofonctionnel doté d'une insaturation, soit par PAOC de l'oxyde d'éthylène en faisant appel à un amorceur porteur d'une insaturation.

11 - 1 . 3 .Schéma 3

 11133 undécène comme agent désactivant insaturé. Les macromonomères de POE ainsi obtenus devraient porter en extrémité de chaîne, entre la chaîne de POE et la double liaison, un espaceur hydrophobe «flexible» dont le rôle serait d'améliorer l'accessibilité de la double liaison et d'accentuer le caractère amphiphile du macromonomère de POE. Il ressort des études de caractérisation des produits de réaction que les taux de fonctionnalisation ne sont pas très élevés. Lorsque cette réaction est effectuée à 110 °C, en masse et en présence d'hydrure de sodium introduit en large excès, les résultats sont bien meilleurs. Comme le démontre, l'analyse par RMN du proton, la fonctionnalisation est pratiquement quantitative dans ces conditions. Ce résultat a été confirmé par MALDI-Tof MS et par SEC. Ces mesures ont également montré que la chaîne de POE n'avait pas été dégradée lors de la réaction en masse à 110 °C 1.2.3. POE -undécènyle--hydroxy Peu de travaux ont porté jusqu'à présent sur la synthèse de macromonomères POE par amorçage, à partir d'undécènolate de potassium comme amorceur. Des telles structures à base de macromonomères de POE amphiphiles pourraient être utiles pour de nombreuses applications par exemple, pour la modification de surfaces fonctionnelles destinées à des applications biomédicales. Dans le troisième chapitre, une autre approche par PAOC de l'oxyde d'éthylène a donc été développée en faisant appel à un amorceur hétérofonctionnel insaturé, obtenu par réaction entre le 10-undécène-1-ol et une quantité stoechiométrique de DPMK. Le principal avantage de cette approche qui conduit à des POEs -undécènyle-hydroxy réside dans le fait que l'on obtient des POEs caractérisés par un taux de fonctionnalisation proche de 100 %. Lors de la préparation de cet amorceur, la formation d'un précipité dans le milieu réactionnel a été observée. L'utilisation d'un amorceur Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza partiellement précipité n'affecte cependant pas les caractéristiques moléculaires des POEs: les valeurs des masses molaires sont conformes aux valeurs calculées et la distribution des masses molaires demeure étroite. Ce résultat peut s'expliquer par la lenteur de la réaction de propagation. Cette observation m'a amené à envisager la préparation d'un amorceur sous forme de poudre. Un amorceur sous forme de poudre présenterait plusieurs avantages par rapport à celui préparé en solution juste avant emploi. Ainsi la « poudre active » peut être facilement pesée dans des conditions inertes, après dispersion dans le solvant, et introduite directement dans le réacteur. La disponibilité d'un tel amorceur sous forme de poudre faciliterait donc le déroulement de la réaction. Un tel amorceur a effectivement pu être obtenu, isolé et purifié. Il a été utilisé avec succès pour la préparation de macromonomères de POE -undécènyle--hydroxy. Ces POEs ont été caractérisés par SEC, RMN du proton et par MALDI-Tof MS. Leur masse molaire absolue a été déterminée par diffusion de la lumière. Ces macromonomères sont effectivement bien définis en masses molaires et quantitativement dotés à une extrémité de chaîne d'une double liaison et à l'autre d'un groupement hydroxyle. Le comportement en solution de ces POEs a été étudié dans le méthanol et dans l'eau par diffusion de la lumière statique. L'influence du groupement undécène sur le comportement en solution a été aussi étudiée par viscosimétrie et par des mesures de concentration micellaire critique. 1.2.4. POE -undécènyle--méthacrylate La présence de ce groupement hydroxyle en extrémité de chaîne du POE permet de greffer, par exemple, une double liaison méthacrylique par réaction avec l'anhydride méthacrylique en présence de triéthylamine (TEA) selon une méthode décrite dans la littérature (cf. aussi chapitre trois). Les caractéristiques moléculaires, déterminées par RMN du proton, MALDI-ToF MS, de ces POEs -undécènyle--méthacrylate sont parfaitement conformes à celles attendues. Des macromonomères de POE originaux porteurs à une extrémité d'un groupement undécène et à l'autre extrémité d'un groupement méthacrylique ont donc pu être obtenus. Ces POEs seront utilisés pour la préparation d'architectures macromoléculaires à structure en peigne ou en étoile. 1.2.5. POE -undécènyle--acétylène Dans le troisième chapitre, la synthèse de macromonomères de POE avec, en extrémité de chaîne, une triple liaison est présentée et discutée. Pour la synthèse de ces POEs, le DPMK (en quantité stoechiométrique) a été ajouté d'abord sur les POEs undécènyle--hydroxy puis suivi de l'addition de bromure de propargyle. Les POEs undécènyle--acétylène, ainsi obtenus, ont été caractérisés par SEC, RMN du proton et MALDI-Tof MS. Leurs caractéristiques sont conformes à celles attendues. Ces POEs seront utilisés pour la préparation des copolymères PI-b-POE dont la synthèse et la caractérisation seront détaillées dans le chapitre quatre. Schéma 2 Représentation schématique des différents POEs linéaires synthétisés Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza Préparation de diverses architectures macromoléculaires à base de POE 1.3.1. A partir de POE -undécènyle--méthacrylate Nous avons montré que l'on pouvait accéder à des macromonomères de POE undécène--méthacrylate originaux, porteurs en extrémité de chaîne d'insaturations de réactivités très différentes. Cette différence de réactivité permet d'élaborer des architectures macromoléculaires ramifiées à base de POE contenant encore des doubles liaisons undécènes, utilisables pour des réactions ultérieures. Deux approches ont été utilisées pour accéder à ces architectures ramifiées, la polymérisation radicalaire de la double liaison terminale méthacrylique du POE et la réaction thiol-ène entre le macromonomère de POE et des mercaptopropionates tétrafonctionnels. Dans le premier cas, la réaction devrait conduire à la formation de POEs à structure en peigne alors que des POEs à structure en étoile devraient résulter de la réaction thiol-ène. 1.3.1.1. POE à structure en peigne L'homopolymérisation des macromonomères de POE -undécènyle--méthacrylate a d'abord été étudiée par voie radicalaire en présence de l'azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) dans le toluène puis par ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization) dans l'eau (CuBr/bipyridine). L'homopolymérisation s'avère effectivement possible. Ces conclusions résultent des analyses par SEC réalisées sur les produits de réaction. Les rendements de la réaction d'homopolymérisation ne sont cependant pas quantitatifs. La purification du produit brut de réaction par fractionnement a permis cependant d'isoler le polymère en forme de peigne de son précurseur. Gladys Pozza Représentation schématique de POE à structure en peigne 1.3.1.2. POE à structure en étoile à quatre branches La réaction de greffage par chimie « click » des macromonomères de POE -undécène--méthacrylate sur des mercaptopropionates tétrafonctionnels conduit effectivement à la formation d'étoiles de POE tétrafonctionnelles. Il faut cependant souligner que plusieurs étapes de purification sont nécessaires pour isoler ces étoiles. Les mesures par RMN du proton réalisées sur le produit après purification confirment la présence des doubles liaisons undécènes. Les pics caractéristiques des protons de la double liaison méthacrylique ont par contre disparu.

Schéma 4

 4 Représentation schématique de POE à structure en étoile à quatre branches 1.3.2. Copolymère à block PI-b-POE Les troisièmes et quatrièmes chapitres de la thèse seront consacrés à la synthèse de copolymères à blocs dotés d'une séquence hydrophile (POE) et d'une séquence hydrophobe polyisoprène (PI). Ces copolymères suscitent un intérêt croissant non seulement en raison de leur aptitude à s'auto-organiser mais aussi de leurs applications très diverses, par exemple en tant que support de catalyseur pour la réaction de polymérisation de l'éthylène ou encore dans la synthèse de polymères dendritiques. La synthèse de copolymères à bloc PI-b-POE peut en principe être réalisée selon deux approches : le PI est préparé d'abord par polymérisation anionique en milieu non-polaire en utilisant le sec-BuLi comme amorceur. En fin de réaction de polymérisation on peut rajouter directement l'oxyde d'éthylène et conduire ensuite la réaction de polymérisation en présence d'une base phosphazène pour accéder ainsi au copolymère à bloc. On peut aussi désactiver l'extrémité de chaîne par addition d'oxyde d'éthylène. L'extrémité de chaîne du PI-OH peut ensuite être activée par une base, comme le DPMK, pour être utilisée comme macroamorceur pour la polymérisation anionique de l'oxyde d'éthylène. Une autre approche a été proposée et qui pourrait permettre d'accéder à ces copolymères par chimie « click ». En faisant réagir un POE porteur en extrémité de chaîne d'une triple liaison avec le PI-N 3 on devrait aussi obtenir le copolymère recherché. Nous avons montré que l'on peut assez facilement modifier l'extrémité de chaîne de POE méthoxy--hydroxy ou de POE -undécènyle--hydroxy par des triples liaisons. Parallèlement à ces réactions de fonctionnalisation de POE, du PI-N 3 a été préparé. Pour ce faire, un PI -hydroxy a été synthétisé par voie anionique, le sec-BuLi a été utilisé comme amorceur et la réaction a été terminée par l'addition d'oxyde d'éthylène. Après purification, l'extrémité de chaîne du PI -hydroxy a été modifiée d'abord par réaction avec du chlorure de tosyle, puis après une nouvelle purification sur colonne bio-beads®, par de l'azoture de sodium afin d'accéder au PI azoture. Par la suite, la réaction de chimie « click » a été réalisée entre le PI-N 3 et le POE porteur en extrémité de chaîne d'une triple liaison en présence de N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) et du bromure de cuivre. L'analyse par SEC des produits de réaction a permis de confirmer le bon déroulement de la réaction. Le copolymère PI-b-POE a pu être séparé du produit brut de réaction par passage sur colonne bio-beads®. Par RMN du proton et du carbone, la structure chimique et la présence groupements introduits sur les polymères ainsi que les taux de fonctionnalité à chaque étape ont pu être déterminés. L'infra-rouge a permis de déterminer la présence puis l'absence des groupements tosyle et azoture sur les différents polymères.Schéma 5 Représentation schématique de PI-b-POE

  synthesis of branched polymers or graft copolymers. A variety of branched polymers based on PEO have been synthesized and studied over the years: Comb, star, hyperbranched and dendritic structures. The synthesis of these branched PEOs is dictated not only by the interest in the development of well-defined macromolecular architectures or the desire to have models for physico-chemical studies, but also by their use particularly in the field of biomedical applications. The last part of this chapter will develop general remarks on organic-inorganic hybrid material, POSS. These materials are attracting growing interest. The incorporation of POSS into polymers improves their thermal stability and their mechanical behavior.The second chapter of the manuscript will focus on the synthesis and characterization of a series of -methoxy--allyl PEOs obtained by deactivation via diphenylmethyl potassium (DPMK) following by addition of allyl bromide on commercial -methoxy-hydroxy PEOs. The same approach has been tested to provide the undecenyl chain-ends on PEO with 11-bromo-1-undecene. The interest for the undecene end-group arises from the presence of a flexible hydrophobic spacer between the double bond and the PEO which may enhance the reactivity and could affect the solubility in water. The second part concerns the coupling, via hydrosilylation, of -allyl PEO macromonomers with silsesquioxanes cores (Q 8 M 8 H ) decorated with eight antagonist Si-H functions to yield star-shaped structures in the presence of a "Speier" catalyst.Less attention was given to the synthesis of PEO macromonomers via AROP based on undecenol as initiator although amphiphilic PEO macromonomer-based structures could be useful for several applications, e.g., as building block in precise macromolecular engineering or for the design of biomaterials. The third chapter will focus on synthesis of -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomers by AROP of EO in the presence of the appropriate undecenolate potassium initiator, prepared in-situ and extended to an alcoholate in the powder form. Well-defined -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers could be obtained and correspond to heterofunctional PEO macromonomers decorated with an undecenyl group at one chain-end and a hydroxyl function at the other chain-end covering a wide range of molar masses.An important part of the thesis will be devoted to the synthesis of complex architectures containing PEO, such as comb and star-shaped polymers. The presence of the hydroxyl group at the chain-end of PEOs represents an advantage to graft methacrylic double bonds. An approach was developed for accessing the original macromonomer carriers to one chain-end of an undecenyl group and at the other chain-end a methacrylic group with a different reactivity between both chain-ends. This difference permits to develop branched macromolecular architectures based on PEOs containing free double bonds. Two approaches are used, a controlled radical polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), of the methacrylic double bond to design comb-shaped PEOs and the thiol-ene reaction between PEO macromonomers and tetrafunctional mercaptopropionates to access star-shaped PEO with four arms. -undecenyl--propargyl PEOs can be used for the synthesis of PI-b-PEO block copolymers These PEOs were obtained by addition of propargyl bromide after modification of the chain-end of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs with DPMK. The synthesis of PI-b-PEO block copolymers was prepared by reaction of undecenyl--propargyl PEOs and -azido PIs via click chemistry. In the next chapter, this approach will be discussed more in details. -Hydroxy PIs were obtained by anionic polymerization of isoprene and the hydroxy chain-ends were modified to azide groups. The classical click chemistry was performed between -undecenyl--propargyl PEOs and -azido PIs.

51 Scheme 10 :

 5110 Scheme 10: Schematical representation of the reaction between DPMK and EO.

Scheme 11 :

 11 Scheme 11: Schematical representation of the cryptand [222]. C. Eisenbach and M. Peuscher prepared PEOs of high molar masses with narrow molar mass distributions. The authors used cryptands and carbazylpotassium as initiator system.

73 Scheme 16 :

 7316 Scheme 16: Schematical representation of triethyllaluminum, triisobutylaluminium and one example of a sulfurbridged polyphenol. V. Rejsek et al. proposed to use triisobutylaluminum as an activator and sodium alkoxide (i-PrONa) or tetraalkylammonium salts (NBu 4 Cl tetrabutylammonium chloride and NOct 4 Br tetraoctylammonium bromide) as initiators in dichloromethane for the AROP of EO and copolymerization with propylene oxide(Scheme 17).74

  DPMK or potassium methoxyethanolate have been extensively used for the preparation of -methoxy PEOs. The former initiator has the advantage to be well soluble in THF, efficient, and leads to PEO chains decorated with diphenyl groups in -position. For the synthesis of PEO macromonomers by initiation an alcoholate is prepared by addition of a stoichiometric amount of DPMK, acting as metallating agent, to a polymerizable heterofunctional alcohol. As expected the resulting alcoholate is only partially soluble in THF. This does not affect the polydispersity index of the resulting PEOs as the medium becomes homogeneous after addition of a few oxirane units. The relatively low nucleophilicity of this compound prevents the attack of the double bond under the conditions used. Masson et al. were among the first to use potassium pisopropenylbenzyl alcoholate (obtained by reaction of the corresponding alcohol with DPMK) for the synthesis by AROP of EO. Well-defined -p-isopropenylbenzy--hydroxy PEO

  Scheme 19: Schematical representation of the AROP of EO to access to 2-oxazoline PEO macromonomers (taken from ref.87 ).PEO-b-(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) block copolymers were prepared via polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline with -methoxy--4-(chloromethyl)-benzoate PEO and -methoxy--4-toluene-sulphonate PEO macromonomers, based on -hydroxy PEO macromonomers.88,89

H. 92 Scheme 22 :

 9222 Scheme 22: Schematical representation of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer.

Scheme 27 :. 98 Scheme 28 :

 279828 Scheme 27: Schematical representation of the compounds for preparation of methoxy methacryloyl PEO macromonomers. PEO macromonomers with 4-vinylphenyl end-group were prepared by Y. Gnanou and P. Rempp. The authors reacted -hydroxycarbonyl PEO macromonomers with 4-vinylaniline (1), with 2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol (2), -tosylate PEO macromonomers with 2-(4vinylphenyl)ethanol or -chloroformate PEO macromonomers with 4-vinylaniline (Scheme 28).98

H. 90 Scheme 32 :

 9032 Scheme 29: Schematical representation of an -allyl PEO macromonomer.

Scheme 37 :

 37 Scheme 37: Schematical representation of the isoprene and EO copolymerization with addition of t-BuP 4 (taken from ref.114 ).

Scheme 38 :

 38 Scheme 38: Schematical representation of the synthesis of PI-b-PEO via nitroxide-mediated free radical polymerization (taken from ref. 117 ).

  Scheme 39: Schematical representation of the synthesis of -acetylene--azido-PS-b-PI (taken from ref.118 ).

  design star-shaped polymers by coupling via hydrosilylation with multifunctional cores decorated with antogonist Si-H functions. Star-shaped PEOs are not only model materials for physicochemical studies, they can also be used for many applications. This stimulated the search for efficient ways to design star-shaped systems characterized by cores of controlled topology, and if possible of controlled functionality, controlled arm-length and eventually functionalizable at the outer-end of the branches. The first part of the present section concerns a discussion on the synthesis of selected examples of star-shaped PEOs. These PEO stars are characterized in most cases by organic cores. Only a few examples of hybrid starshaped polymers exist. Most of these hybrid stars are constituted of POSS cores and organic polymers. The already existing few examples of POSS / stars will be presented in the final part of this section.

B

  Scheme 40: Schematical representation of the synthesis of 3-miktoarm star terpolymer star(PtBA-PS-PEO) (taken from ref. 136 ). Dendrimer-like [PEEGE-(PS/PEO)] 2 was synthesized in one step by coupling via click chemistry star[polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether)] [star(PS-PEO-(PEEGE-OH))] terpolymers modified with propargyle bromide. 137

Scheme 18 :

 18 Scheme 18: Schematical representation of -p-isopropenylbenzy--hydroxy PEO macromonomer (taken from ref.86 ). .................................................................................................................................................................... Scheme 19: Schematical representation of the AROP of EO to access to 2-oxazoline PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 87 ). ................................................................................................................................................ Scheme 20: Schematical representation of the synthesis of -norbornenyl PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 90 ). .................................................................................................................................................................... Scheme 21: Schematical representation of the synthesis of -hydroxy--amino or -methoxy--amino PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 91 ). ................................................................................................................... Scheme 22: Schematical representation of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer. .......................... Scheme 23: Schematical representation of the -diphenylmethyl or -methoxy--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers (taken from ref. 86 ). ................................................................................................................... Scheme 24: Schematical representation of the different initiator groups. .......................................................... Scheme 25: Schematical representation of the glycidyl methacryloyl PEO macromonomer (taken from ref.96 ).

  second part concerns the coupling, via hydrosilylation, of -allyl PEO macromonomers with octafunctionalized silsesquioxanes to yield star-shaped polymers.A series of -methoxy--allyl PEO macromonomers were obtained upon addition of allyl bromide to commercial -methoxy--hydroxy PEOs after modification of the chain-end with DPMK. The resulting functional PEOs were characterized by SEC to verify the absence of coupling products. The functionalization yields are almost quantitative as revealed by1 H NMR. MALDI-ToF MS measurements attested also the presence of the allyl group at the chain-end of the mono or bifunctionalized PEOs. A similar approach was investigated to try to decorate PEO chain-ends with undecenyl end-groups. The interest for such PEOs arises from the presence of a flexible hydrophobic spacer between the double bond and the PEO who may enhance the reactivity and could affect the solubility in water. These attempts were not successful as under the chosen experimental conditions almost identical to those used for the synthesis of -methoxy--allyl PEOs no quantitative functionalization could be achieved. This point will be addressed again in Chapter 3 as PEOs quantitatively decorated with undecenyl end-groups may be of interest for a range of potential applications.The second part discusses the coupling of these -allyl PEOs via hydrosilylation with silsesquioxanes cores (Q 8 M 8 H ) decorated with eight antagonist Si-H functions. The former becomes the branch and the latter the core of the star-shaped PEO named Q 8 M 8PEO. For these reactions, a platinum catalyst (Speier catalyst)

  H NMR. Preliminary grafting experiments demonstrated that the reaction has to be carried with a molar ratio [-allyl PEO] / [Q 8 M 8 H ] of at least 10, to avoid the presence of residual Si-H functions. Under these conditions hybrid PEO stars (Figure 2.1a) characterized by branches of M n up to 10000 g/mol could be obtained. The absence of Si-H functions was confirmed by IR and 1 H NMR. Once purified by fractional precipitation, the absolute molar mass of the star molecules was determined by light scattering. An average functionality of eight was measured.

Figure 2 .

 2 Figure 2.1 a) Left typical representation of a PEO / POSS star. b) Schematical representation of a block surface modified by PEO / POSS stars.

Chapter 3 : 3 

 33 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 127 Gladys Pozza Chapter -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocks 3.1. Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 129 3.2. Article 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 131 Gladys M.-E. Pozza, Markus J. Barthel, Sarah Crotty, Jürgen Vitz, Felix H. Schacher, Pierre J. Lutz,* Ulrich S. . building blocks for the synthesis of linear diblocks or of branched materials" In press, Eur. Polym. J.Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 129 Gladys Pozza 3.1. Summary In the previous chapter we discussed the synthesis of well-defined -allyl PEO macromonomers and their use in the synthesis of hybrid PEO / POSS star-shaped polymers of precise molar mass and functionality. The first part of this chapter is focused on the synthesis via AROP and the characterization of PEO macromonomers decorated at one chain-end with undecenyl endgroups and at the other chain-end with hydroxyl groups. The second part concerns the synthesis of branched PEOs based on the ATRP of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers or on coupling via click chemistry. -Undecenyl PEO macromonomers are characterized by the presence of a flexible hydrophobic spacer between the terminal double bond and the PEO chain-end. The attempts to synthesize -undecenyl PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification using an approach similar to -allyl PEO were not successful. Therefore we decided to prepare undecenyl-PEO macromonomers via AROP in the presence of a heterofunctional initiator based on 10-undecen-1-ol. Two strategies for the preparation of the initiator were considered: Either the potassium undecenolate initiator was prepared in situ or the previously prepared initiator was added. The potassium undecenolate initiator prepared in situ is obtained by reaction of DPMK with 10-undecen-1-ol. The reaction with the previously prepared initiator is obtained by directly adding the potassium undecenolate in a powder form. The initiator in powder form would have several advantages as compared to the one prepared in solution just before use. The availability of such a powder initiator would facilitate the processing and the reaction procedure. Due to the active powder, which can easily be weighed under inert conditions, a subsequent time consuming titration in the reactor can be avoided. The resulting -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs were characterized by SEC, 1 H NMR and MALDI-ToF MS to determine the molar masses and the functionality. Welldefined -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers could be obtained in both cases. The solution behavior of these PEO macromonomers was investigated in methanol and in water Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza by DLS. The influence of the undecenyl group on their solution behavior was also studied by viscosimetry and critical micelle concentration (cmc) measurements. The hydroxy function of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs could be selectively and quantitatively modified with a methacryloyl group providing access to a new class of heterobifunctional PEO macromonomers decorated at the chain-ends with double bonds of different reactivity. We took advantage of the different reactivity between undecenyl and methacryloyl group to prepare comb-shaped PEOs via ATRP in water of the -undecenyl-methacryloyl PEO macromonomers. The same macromonomers were used to try to design via "click reaction", tetrafunctional PEO star-shaped polymers decorated with undecenyl groups at the other end of the branches.

Figure 3 . 1

 31 Figure 3.1 Schematical representation of PEO macromonomers and star-shaped PEO with four branches.

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 139

SCHEME 2 .

 2 SCHEME 2. Schematic representation of the synthesis of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer by initiation.

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 149

aFig. 1 .

 1 Fig. 1. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (initiator in the powder form) (400 MHz, DMSO-d 6 ). For most of the samples, the M n values are in good agreement with the expected values taking

Tailor-made heterofunctional

  poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza this sample by SEC with an online multi angle light scattering detector (MALS) in THF and by classical light scattering (LS) in methanol. For the online LS a value of M w 38,700 g/mol was obtained whereas the LS study in methanol showed a value of M W 35,700 g/mol. These results are confirming the efficiency of the powder initiator.

Fig. 2 .

 2 Fig. 2. MALDI-TOF MS of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by AROP of oxirane a) M n,SEC = 2,400 g/mol b) M n,SEC = 38,000 g/mol (initiator in the powder form) (Matrix: DCTB, NaI).

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 153

Fig. 3 .

 3 Fig. 3. Variation of the ratio I 1 / I 3 versus concentration for three PEO samples: EO-und1 (PEO -undecenyl--hydroxy, M n = 1,750 g/mol), EO-und4 (PEO -undecenyl--hydroxy, M n = 3,600 g/mol) (Some values have been taken from Hassan Harris thesis, Strasbourg, 2009).

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 155 Gladys Pozza

building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza SCHEME 3 .

 Pozza3 SCHEME 3. Schematic representation ofthe-undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine.

The 1 H

 1 NMR spectrum is presented in FigureS9which unambiguously shows the presence of peaks characteristic of the undecene (CH 2 =CH)  = 5.8 ppm) and of the methacryloyl groups (CH 3 C=CH 2 :  = 6.1 and 5.5 ppm and CH 3 C=CH 2 :  = 1.9 ppm). The average functionality of the PEO macromonomers was determined by integrating the signals of the 1 H NMR spectra, i.e. the peaks at 6.1 ppm (methacryloyl double bond, 1H) and the peak at 5.8 ppm Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 157 Gladys Pozza (CH 2 =CH) (-undecene). The different values are provided in Table

Fig. 4 .

 4 Fig. 4. Typical SEC trace of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer and a PI-b-PEO block copolymer (SEC in THF based on calibration with linear PEOs).For the same samples, 1 H NMR measurements were performed in CDCl 3 . A typical 1 H NMR

  4 was added followed by a new addition of a controlled amount of EO. V. Rejsek et al. prepared in a one step process PI-b-PEO by direct polymerization of EO on initiated -living polystyrenyllithium or polyisoprenyllithium in the presence of triisobutylaluminum[95]. We developed a new approach to access PI-b-PEO diblock copolymers via a combination of living anionic polymerization and azide/alkyne cycloadditon.

By 13 C

 13 NMR measurements, the characteristic peak of carbon atoms (CH 2 N 3 ) at 50 ppm could be observed. The proton and the carbon peaks characteristic of the methyl group in the tosyl functions disappeared at 2.4 ( 1 H NMR) and 22 ppm ( 13 C NMR) as well as the peaks characteristic of tosyl functions in the aromatic region at 7.8 and 7.3 ppm ( 1 H NMR) and 147, 129.8 and 127.8 ppm, respectively ( 13 C NMR) (Fig.S11 and S12).The click chemistry reaction was performed between -azido PI and -undecenyl-acetylene PEO in the presence of PMDETA and CuBr (Scheme 4).

SCHEME 4 .

 4 SCHEME 4. Schematic representation of the synthesis of PI-b-PEO via click reaction between -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs and -azido PIs. PI-b-PEO was characterized by SEC (calibration with linear PEOs). The SEC trace of the

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 161Gladys PozzaUndecenyl--acetylene PEO is not present in the SEC trace of the fractionated PI-b-PEO (this PEO has an elution volume of 23.5 mL and in the SEC trace of PI-b-PEO no distribution is visible at this elution volume). However, despite of the delicate purifications, -azido PIs are also present.The structure of the PI-b-PEO was characterized by 1 H and13 C NMR (Fig.5and S15). A peak at 8 ppm appeared and corresponds to the proton in the triazol group. The peak characteristic of undecenyl bond is present (5.8 and 5.1 ppm). The signal at 4.3 ppm of CH 2 C≡CH disappeared confirming the absence of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO (already shown in the SEC trace). At 50 ppm the peak characteristic for CH 2 N 3 disappeared.

Fig. 5 .

 5 Fig. 5. 1 H NMR spectrum of a PI-b-PEO (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ). FTIR spectra of PI-N 3 , -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs and PI-b-PEO are shown in Figure 6.

Fig. 6 .

 6 Fig. 6. FTIR spectrum of an -azido PI, an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO and a PI-b-PEO.

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 163 Gladys Pozza the reaction products obtained by FRP are presented on FigureS16. These SEC curves are characterized by the presence of two peaks: a first one corresponding to the precursor, the undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer and the second one attributed to the combshaped PEO. The PDI of the comb-polymer is very large. Similar observations were made for the samples prepared in THF (Fig.S17).Far better results were obtained by ATRP in water. The details concerning the preparation of the samples are given in the experimental section. On the SEC curve of the reaction product (Fig.S18) we can again see two distributions. The first one at high elution volumes corresponds to the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer and the second peak to the comb-shaped PEO. In order to remove the linear PEO chain from the raw reaction product we initially made some attempts by dialysis. The comb-shaped PEOs that are larger than the pores of the dialysis membrane should be retained on the sample side of the membrane, but the linear PEO macromonomer should pass through the membrane. This technique has been already used successfully to remove unreacted PEO branches in star-shaped PEOs [100]. The SEC trace (not presented) of the dialysed raw comb-shaped PEO retained on the sample side of the membrane is almost identical to the SEC of the starting product. Several other approaches were explored to fractionate PEOs of various structures or functionalities. Cansell et al. [101] used supercritical fluids to isolate star-shaped PEO from the raw reaction. Trimpin et al. [102] fractionated mixtures of low molar mass PEOs with liquid adsorption chromatography at critical conditions combined with a MALDI-TOF MS characterization.

SCHEME 5 .

 5 SCHEME 5. Schematic representation of 4 arm PEO star molecules obtained via thiol-ene click reaction of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate).

Fig. 7 .

 7 Fig. 7. Typical SEC trace of 4 arm PEO star molecules obtained via thiol-ene click reaction of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3mercaptopropionate).To prove the complete conversion of the MMA double bond and the presence of the core molecule as well as the unreacted undecenyl double bond in the PEO star, 1 H NMR

Chapter 3 :

 3 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 167Gladys PozzaConclusionsThe first aim of the present work was to design undecenyl PEO macromonomers of precise molar mass and functionality, and characterized by very low PDIs. AROP of ethylene oxide was achieved in the presence of an unsaturated heterofunctional initiator. The most innovative part of the work concerns the development of a new unsaturated heterofunctional initiator in powder form to be used for the AROP of ethylene oxide. The availability of a powder initiator facilitates the processing and the reaction procedure. Such an initiator would be well-suited for the synthesis of libraries of end-functional PEOs, of copolymers based on PEO by AROP combined with ATRP or of various types of branched PEOs. Based on a long-term stable powder initiator obtained by reaction of undecenol with a stoichiometric amount of DPMK, and thereafter carefully purified, a series of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers could be obtained. Their molecular characteristics met the expectations. These heterofunctional PEO macromonomers are decorated at one chain-end with a double bond and at the other chain-end with a hydroxyl function. This hydroxyl function could be selectively and quantitatively modified with a methacryloyl group providing access to a new class of heterobifunctional PEO macromonomers decorated at the chain-ends with double bonds of different reactivity well-suited for the synthesis of branched PEOs. ATRP in water made it possible to prepare comb-shaped PEOs characterized by the presence of branches with undecenyl groups at the outer-end. The same macromonomers were successfully used to synthesize via "click reaction" tetrafunctional PEO star-shaped polymers decorated with undecenyl groups. If the hydroxyl function is transformed in an acetylene group, PI-b-PEO diblocks could be obtained by coupling the resulting -undecenyl--acetylene PEO with azido functionalized PI via "click reaction". The special property of these PI-b-PEO block copolymers is the presence of undecene groups at the chain-end of PEO block. This double

Chapter 4 Functionalized PI-b-PEO 4 . 1 .

 441 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 181 4.2. Article 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 183 Gladys M.-E. Pozza, Jürgen Vitz, Pierre J. Lutz,* Ulrich S. Schubert* "End-group functionalized polyisoprene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) prepared by combining anionic polymerization and click chemistry" In preparation 4.1. Summary In the previous chapter, we discussed the synthesis of well-defined -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomers and their use in the synthesis of comb-and star-shaped polymers. These PEO macromonomers could also be used for the preparation of PI-b-PEO via click reaction. The fourth chapter of the thesis is devoted to the synthesis of PI-b-PEO. These diblock copolymers are characterized by hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks, their chains may aggregate in aqueous solution to form spherical, cylindrical or vesicular assemblies. The first part of this chapter is focused on the synthesis via anionic polymerization and the characterization of -hydroxy PI. -Tosyl PIs were obtained after chain-end modification of hydroxy groups in the presence of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine. These tosyl PIs were also modified in -azido PI by sodium azide. The second part concerns the synthesis of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomers based on the chain-end modification of -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers via deactivation with DPMK and propargyle bromide. Finally, a classical click reaction was performed between -undecenyl--acetylene PEO and -azido PI in the presence of N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and copper(I) bromide. The resulting functional PI-b-PEOs were characterized by SEC, 1 H NMR and MALDI-ToF MS. Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide) via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza Abstract Polyisoprene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PI-b-PEO) diblock copolymers were designed via a combination of living anionic polymerization and azide/alkyne cycloadditon. -Carbanionic PIs were prepared by anionic polymerization in toluene with secbutyllithium as initiator. Quenching with EO and subsequently acidified methanol provided access to -hydroxy PIs characterized by a high content of 1,4-cis units and exhibiting low polydispersity index values. In a second step, the tosylation of the hydroxy functions of the PI chain-ends and the conversion of the tosylated chainends into azide functional groups was achieved. The -undecenyl--hydroxy-PEOs were synthesized by anionic ring opening polymerization of ethylene oxide in THF, with potassium undecenolate as initiator. -Undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomers were obtained upon reaction with propargyl bromide after modification of the hydroxyl chain-ends by an intermediate addition of a stoichiometric amount of diphenylmethyl potassium. The click reaction was performed between the -azido PI and the -undecenyl--acetylene PEO in the presence of N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylene triamine and copper(I) bromide. The -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs, the -azido PIs and the coupling products were characterized by SEC, 1 H and 13 C NMR, FTIR and MALDI-ToF MS to obtain information about the molar mass, chemical-composition and functionality. The successful coupling of the -azido PI and the -undecenyl--acetylene PEO could be confirmed.

4 was

 4 added followed by a new addition of a controlled amount of EO. V. Rejsek et al. prepared in a one step process PS-b-PEO or PI-b-PEO by direct polymerization of EO on initiated -living polystyrenyllithium or polyisoprenyllithium in the presence of triisobutylaluminum. 22 K. Wegrzyn et al. introduced an alternate route. Starting from commercially available -hydroxy PEO, the authors prepared macroinitiators suitable

For the measurement of

  the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) spectra, an Ultraflex III ToF/ToF instrument (Bruker Daltonics, Bemen, Germany) was used. The instrument was calibrated prior to each measurement with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the external standard (PSS, Polymer Standards Service GmbH, Mainz, Germany). Samples were mixed with either 2-[(2E)-3-(4-tertbutylphenyl)-2-methylprop-2-enylidene]malononitrile (DCTB), or 2,5dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) as matrix and the doping agent NaI (dried droplet method).

H NMR and 13 C

 13 NMR. 1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 7.8 and 7.3 (m, 2H, aromatic), 5.2 (m, 1H, trans-1,4-PI and cis-1,4-PI), 4.7 (m, 2H, 1,2 PI), 4.6 (m, 2H, 3,4 PI), 4.0 (m, 2H, CH 2 OS), 2.4 (s, 3H, CH 3 C), 1.82.1 (m, 2H, trans-1,4-PI, cis-1,4-PI, 3,4 PI), 1.51.7 (m, 2H trans-1,4-PI and 1,2 PI, 3H, cis-1,4-PI and 3,4 PI), 1.4 (m, 3H, trans-1,4-PI), 0.80.9 (m, 6H, CH 3 CH 2 CH(CH 3 )). 13 C NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 147.5 (CH, 3,4 PI), 147 (C, aromatic), 135.2 (C, trans-1,4-PI, cis-1,4-PI, CH, 1,2 PI), 129.8 and 127.8 (CH 2 , aromatic), 125.1 (CH, trans-1,4-PI, cis-1,4-PI), 111.1

by 1 H

 1 NMR. 1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 5.8 (m, 1H, CH=CH 2 ),5.2 (m, 1H, trans-1,4-PI and cis-1,4-PI), 5.1 (m, 2H, CH=CH 2 ), 4.7 (m, 2H, 1,2 PI), 4.6 (m, 2H, 3,4 PI), 3.63.8 (m, 4H*n, OCH 2 CH 2 ),2.0 (m, 2H, CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.82.1 (m, 2H, trans-1,4-PI, cis-1,4-PI, 3,4 PI), 1.51.7 (m, 2H trans-1,4-PI and 1,2 PI, 3H, cis-1,4-PI and 3,4 PI), 1.5 (m, 2H, CH 2 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ),1.4 (m, 3H, trans-1,4-PI), 1.11.3 (m, 2H*7, CH(CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 0.80.9 (m, 6H, CH 3 CH 2 CH(CH 3 )). FTIR (cm -1 ): 2930 (CH 2 , stretching, PI), 2880 (CH, stretching, PEO), 2860 (CH 2 stretching) 1645 (C=C, stretching, PI), 1467 (CH 2 , deformation, PEO), 1450 (CH 2 , deformation, PI), 1375 (CH 3 , deformation, PI), 1100 (CO, stretching).

Fig. 1 . 1 H

 11 Fig. 1. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -hydroxy PI obtained by anionic polymerization (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. 2 .Fig. 3 .

 23 Fig.2.13 C NMR spectrum of an -hydroxy PI obtained by anionic polymerization (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ). FTIR measurements of PIs were discussed by several authors.[30][31][32][33] Detailed assignments of the observed fundamental bands of trans-1,4-PI have been analyzed as the peak positions and relative intensities. The shift of absorption peaks caused by microstructure content's variation was also discussed. The recorded FTIR spectra of PI-OH, PI-Ts and PI-N 3 are shown in Figure3. The =CH stretching frequency is placed between 3100 and 3000 cm -1 . The CH 2 and CH 3 stretching typically appears in the region 3000 to 2800 cm -1 . The deformation vibration of the (CH 2 ) groups

Figure 4

 4 Figure 4 depicts the MALDI-ToF MS spectra of an -hydroxy PI, (M n,SEC / LS = 2 200 g mol -1 ). The peak at m/z 1912 is attributed to the -hydroxy PI (57.114 (C 4 H 9 ) + 68.117n (n =25) (C 5 H 8 ) + 45.060 (CH 2 CH 2 OH) + 107.868 (Ag)) (where n is the degree of polymerization). The shift of m/z 68 is caused by the PI chain. The values calculated for the molar masses are in good agreement with the theoretical values.

Fig. 4 .

 4 Fig. 4. MALDI-TOF MS of an -hydroxy PI obtained by anionic polymerization (M n,SEC / LS = 2 200 g mol -1 ) (Matrix: dithranol, AgTFA).The hydroxyl groups are transformed into tosyl groups (Scheme 2) as described in the experimental section.

Fig. 5 . 1 H

 51 Fig. 5. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -tosyl PI obtained by chain-end modification of an hydroxy PI with TsCl in the presence of TEA (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. 6 .

 6 Fig.6.13 C NMR spectrum of an -tosyl PI obtained by chain-end modification of an -hydroxy PI with TsCl in the presence of TEA (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

By 13 C

 13 NMR measurements, the characteristic peak of carbons (CH 2 N 3 ) at 50 ppm could be observed. The proton and the carbon peaks characteristic of the methyl group in tosyl functions disappeared at 2.4 ( 1 H NMR) and 22 ppm ( 13 C NMR) as well as the peaks characteristic of tosyl functions in the aromatic region at 7.8 and 7.3 ppm ( 1 H NMR) and 147, 129.8 and 127.8 ppm ( 13 C NMR).

Fig. 7 . 1 H

 71 Fig. 7. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -azido PI obtained by chain-end modification of an -tosyl PI in the presence of NaN 3 (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ) (g not well visible).

Fig. 8 .

 8 Fig.8.13 C NMR spectrum of an -azido PI obtained by chain-end modification of an -tosyl PI in the presence of NaN 3 (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Scheme 4 .Fig. 9 .

 49 Scheme 4. Schematic representation of the synthesis of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomers.

Fig. 10 . 1 H

 101 Fig. 10. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with propargyl bromide in the presence of DPMK (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ). MALDI-ToF MS has also been applied to analyze the different PEOs.Figure 11

Figure 11 depict

 11 the MALDI-ToF MS spectra of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO (M n,SEC = 2 200 mol -1 ). The signals between m/z values with a characteristic shift of m/z 44 are unambiguously due to the PEO chain. These different characterization results confirm that induced deactivation of metalated PEOs with propargyle bromide indeed led to the expected -undecenyl--acetylene compound. The M n values calculated by MALDI-TOF MS are in good agreement with the M n values determined by SEC. The peak at m/z 1756 is attributed to the -undecenyl--acetylene PEO (153.284 (CH 2 CH(CH 2 ) 9 ) + 44.053n (n = 35) (CH 2 CH 2 O) + 54.047 (OCH 2 CCH) + 6.941 (Li)) (where n is the degree of polymerization).

Fig. 11 .

 11 Fig. 11. MALDI-TOF MS of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with propargyl bromide in the presence of DPMK (Matrix: dithranol, AgTFA).Synthesis of PI-b-PEO via click chemistry PI-b-PEO

Fig. 13 .Figure 14 .

 1314 Fig. 13. 13 C NMR spectrum of a PI-b-PEO obtained by click reaction between undecenyl--acetylene PEO and -azido PI (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ). FTIR spectra of PI-N 3 , -undecenyl--acetylene PEOs and PI-b-PEO are shown in Figure 14. The peak of N 3 groups (2110 cm -1 ) and C≡CH (3260 cm -1 ) disappeared in the spectrum of PI-b-PEO block copolymer. However, at 1778 and 1728 cm -1 the peaks corresponding to N=N appeared.

Fig. 14 . 5 

 145 Fig. 14. FTIR spectrum of an -azido PI, an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO and a PIb-PEO.

Figure 5 . 1

 51 Figure 5.1 Schematical representation of a PEO star-shaped polymer with eight branches.

  PEO arms were characterized by MALDI-ToF MS and the measurements confirmed that the arms of the star-shaped polymers possess homogeneous lengths. Another possibility to access multiarm PEO stars based on the "arm-first" method was developed by S. Hou et al. The authors prepared six arm PEO stars with 6 pyridyl or 12

Fourier

  Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy was performed in the Attenuated Total Reflection Mode (ATR-FTIR) using a Vertex 70 spectrometer (Bruker, Germany) equipped with a DTGS detector and a single reflection diamond ATR accessory (A225/Q Platinum ATR, Bruker, Germany). Reference (air) and sample spectra were taken by collecting 20 interferograms between 500 and 3000 cm -1 using a Blackman-Harris three-term apodization and the standard Bruker OPUS/IR software (version 5.0). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS): For the measurement of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) spectra, an Ultraflex III TOF/TOF instrument (Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany) was used. The instrument was calibrated prior to each measurement with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the external standard (PSS, Polymer Standards Service GmbH, Mainz, Germany). Samples were mixed with either 2-[(2E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylprop-2enylidene]malononitrile (DCTB), or 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) as matrix and the doping agent NaI (dried droplet method).

  )7CH2CH2CH2Si), 1.1-1.3 (m, 2H*7, CH2(CH2)7CH2CH2CH2Si), 0.5 (m, 2H, Si(CH3)2CH2), 0 (t, 6H, Si(CH3)2).13 C NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz):  70.

Scheme 1 .

 1 Scheme 1. Schematical representation of the synthesis of an -undecenyl PEO

Figure 1 .

 1 Figure 1. Typical SEC trace of Q8M8 PEO (Mn,SEC,Macro = 1800 g mol -1 ).

Figure 2 .

 2 Figure 2. Typical SEC trace of fractionated Q8M8 PEO (Mn,SEC,Macro = 1800 g mol -1 ).

Figure 3 . 1 H

 31 Figure 3. 1 H NMR spectrum of Q8M8 PEO (400 MHz, CDCl3).

  , at 1.42 ppm the peak characteristic of the Si-H and at -108 ppm the Si-O4 group of the POSS are observed. On the spectrum of the Q8M8 PEO , the peak at -1.42 ppm is shifted to 12.55 ppm and corresponds to the bond between Si and PEO. The presence at 108 ppm of the Si-O4 group confirms that the POSS core is not affected by the reaction. No signals characteristic of side products were detected.

Figure 4 .

 4 Figure 4. 29 Si NMR spectrum of Q8M8 H and Q8M8 PEO (400 MHz, CDCl3).

Figure 5 .

 5 Figure 5. FTIR spectrum: (a) Q8M8 H (b) Q8M8 PEO .

Figure 6 .

 6 Figure 6. MALDI-ToF MS of Q8M8 PEO (Matrix: DCTB, NaI).

Figure 7 .

 7 Figure 7. Form factors of PEO arms (-undecenyl PEO) and related PEO stars (star 11) in

Figure 8 .

 8 Figure 8. Fits of the PEO arm and star form factors to the Debye and Benoît functions,

Figure 9 .

 9 Figure 9. Kratky representation of the PEO arm and PEO star form factor.

For

  Q8M8 PEO (based allyl or undecenyl PEO) a shoulder is present and most probably corresponding to the low crystallization of the Q8M8 PEO . The Tm value of Q8M8 PEO based allyl PEO is at 56.3 °C and at 54.3 °C for Q8M8 PEO based undecenyl PEO, compared to -allyl PEO (58.5 °C) or -undecenyl PEO (55.9 °C).

Figure 10 .

 10 Figure 10. Sequences of micrographs obtained by optical microscopy with polarized light at

Annex 1 :Annex 2 :Annex 3 :Annex 1 :

 1231 Fig. S1. Typical SEC trace of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (initiator undecenol/DMPK) (M n,SEC = 1,750 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S2. 1 H

 1 Fig.S2.1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (initiator undecenol/DMPK) (400 MHz, DMSO-d 6 ).

Fig. S3. 1 H

 1 Fig.S3.1 H NMR spectrum of a powder potassium undecenolate initiator (400 MHz, DMSOd 6 ).

Fig. S4 .

 S4 Fig. S4. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in methanol of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 38,000 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S5 .

 S5 Fig. S5. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in methanol of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 2,100 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S6 .

 S6 Fig. S6. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in water of an -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 3,8000 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S7 .

 S7 Fig. S7. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in water of an -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 2,100 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S8 .

 S8 Fig. S8.Typical SEC trace of an -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine (M n,SEC = 3,400 g mol-1 ).

Fig. S9. 1 H

 1 Fig. S9.1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S10 .

 S10 Fig. S10. MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of an -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine (M n,SEC = 3,300 g mol -1 ) (Matrix: DCTB, NaI).

Fig. S11. 1 H

 1 Fig. S11. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -azido PI 400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S12. 13 C

 13 Fig.S12.13 C NMR spectrum of an -azido PI (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S13. 1 H

 1 Fig. S13.1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S14 .

 S14 Fig. S14. MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer (Matrix: dithranol, AgTFA).

Fig. S15. 13 C

 13 Fig. S15. 13 C NMR spectrum of a PI-b-PEO (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S16 .

 S16 Fig. S16. Typical SEC trace of the raw reaction product obtained by FRP of sample PEOMA5 in toluene (50 °C, 24 hours).

Fig. S17 .

 S17 Fig. S17. Typical SEC trace of the raw reaction product obtained by FRP of sample PEOMA5 in THF (50 °C, 6 hours).

Fig. S18 .

 S18 Fig. S18. Typical SEC trace of the raw reaction product obtained by ATRP of sample PEOMA6 in water (60 °C, 24 hours).

Fig. S19 .

 S19 Fig. S19. Typical SEC trace of fractionated product obtained by ATRP of sample PEOMA6 in water (60 °C, 24 hours).

Fig. S20. 1 H

 1 Fig.S20.1 H NMR spectrum of 4 arm PEO star molecules obtained via thiol-ene click reaction of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3mercaptopropionate) (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S21 .

 S21 Fig. S21. MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of 4 arm PEO star molecules obtained via thiol-ene click reaction of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (Matrix: DCTB, NaI).

Fig. S1 .

 S1 Fig. S1. Typical SEC trace of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (initiator undecenol/DMPK) (M n,SEC = 1,750 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S2. 1 H

 1 Fig. S2. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (initiator undecenol/DMPK) (400 MHz, DMSO-d 6 ).

Fig. S3. 1 H

 1 Fig. S3. 1 H NMR spectrum of a powder potassium undecenolate initiator (400 MHz, DMSOd 6 ).

Fig. S4 .

 S4 Fig. S4. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in methanol of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 38,000 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S5 .

 S5 Fig. S5. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in methanol of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 2,100 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S6 .

 S6 Fig. S6. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in water of an -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 38,000 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S7 .

 S7 Fig. S7. Determination of the hydrodynamic radius by DLS in water of an -undecenyl-hydroxy PEO macromonomer obtained by initiation (M n,SEC = 2,100 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S8 .

 S8 Fig. S8. Typical SEC trace of an -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine (M n,SEC = 3,400 g mol -1 ).

Fig. S9. 1 H

 1 Fig. S9. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S10 .

 S10 Fig. S10. MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of an -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO obtained by chain-end modification of an -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomer with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine (M n,SEC = 3,300 g mol -1 ) (Matrix: DCTB, NaI).

Fig. S11. 1 H

 1 Fig. S11. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -azido PI 400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S12. 13 C

 13 Fig. S12. 13 C NMR spectrum of an -azido PI (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S13. 1 H

 1 Fig. S13. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S14 .

 S14 Fig. S14. MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of an -undecenyl--acetylene PEO macromonomer (Matrix: dithranol, AgTFA).

Fig. S15. 13 C

 13 Fig. S15. 13 C NMR spectrum of a PI-b-PEO (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S16 .

 S16 Fig. S16. Typical SEC trace of the raw reaction product obtained by FRP of sample PEOMA5 in toluene (50 °C, 24 hours).

Fig. S17 .

 S17 Fig. S17. Typical SEC trace of the raw reaction product obtained by FRP of sample PEOMA5 in THF (50 °C, 6 hours).

Fig. S18 .

 S18 Fig. S18. Typical SEC trace of the raw reaction product obtained by ATRP of sample PEOMA6 in water (60 °C, 24 hours).

Fig. S19 .

 S19 Fig. S19. Typical SEC trace of fractionated product obtained by ATRP of sample PEOMA1 in water (60 °C, 24 hours).

Fig. S20. 1 H

 1 Fig. S20. 1 H NMR spectrum of 4 arm PEO star molecules obtained via thiol-ene click reaction of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3mercaptopropionate) (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ).

Fig. S21 .

 S21 Fig. S21. MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of 4 arm PEO star molecules obtained via thiol-ene click reaction of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomer with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (Matrix: DCTB, NaI).

Figure S2 .

 S2 Figure S2. UV spectrum of an -naphthyl carbamate PEO measured in ethanol.

  Figure S3. In addition to the signals of the methylene protons [OCH2CH2 (4H*n),  = 3.6to3.8 ppm, PEO chain except the first methylene group], the spectrum is characterized by peaks assignable to the methoxy protons (initiator potassium methoxyethanolate). The corresponding peak of the hydroxyl function (in the precursor polymer at 4.70 ppm) disappeared. A new peak at 4.4 ppm appeared,corresponding to the bond-formation between the naphthyl carbamate group and the PEO chain (CH2CH2OCON).1 H NMR was also used to determine the functionalization yield. Considering the ratio between the integrals of the peak of the methyl group at 3.3 ppm (CH3OPEO, outer chain) and the methylene group at 4.4 ppm (originating from the other end the PEO chain), a functionality value close to 1 was calculated. )25CH3H (186.187 (OC10H7NHCO) + 44.053n (n = 25) (CH2CH2O) + 15.035 (CH3) + 1.008 (H) (where n is the degree of polymerization)). The same "minor"

Figure S4 .

 S4 Figure S4. MALDI-ToF MS of an -naphthyl carbamate PEO (Mn,SEC = 1200 g mol -1 )

Figure S5 .

 S5 Figure S5.Typical SEC trace of an -undecenyl PEO macromonomer obtained by

Figure S6. 1 H

 1 Figure S6. 1 H NMR spectrum of an -undecenyl PEO macromonomer obtained by

Figure S7 .

 S7 Figure S7. MALDI-ToF MS of an -undecenyl PEO macromonomer obtained by

Figure S8 .

 S8 Figure S8. MALDI-ToF MS of an -undecenyl PEO macromonomer with contamination of

Figure S9 .

 S9 Figure S9. Light scattering data of Q8M8 PEO measured in methanol.

Figure S10. 13 C

 13 Figure S10.13 C NMR spectrum of Q8M8 PEO (400 MHz, CDCl3).

Figure S11 .

 S11 Figure S11. Sequences of micrographs obtained by optical microscopy with polarized light at

  Le dernier chapitre de la thèse est consacré à la synthèse et la caractérisation physicochimique détaillée des étoiles de POE avec un coeur silsesquioxane. Le greffage par hydrosilylation des extrémités de chaîne des POEs -méthoxy--undécènyle sur les groupes Si-H de la cage Q 8 M 8 H, en présence du catalyseur de « Karstedt » a été étudié. Les conditions optimales de réaction ont pu être établies. L'influence des divers paramètres expérimentaux sur le rendement de greffage tels que la température, le temps de réaction et la concentration du catalyseur de « Karstedt » utilisée, a été étudiée par SEC. Une fois purifié par précipitation fractionnée, les étoiles de POE ont été caractérisées par diffusion de la lumière afin de déterminer leurs masses molaires absolues. Une fonctionnalité moyenne de huit a pu être calculée. L'absence de fonctions Si-H résiduels a été confirmée par IR et par -H de la cage, Q 8 M 8 H. Le POE -méthoxy--undécènyle, contrairement au POE -méthoxy--allyle, porte un espaceur flexible hydrophobe entre la séquence POE et la double liaison. La présence de cet espaceur facilite l'accès à la double liaison et augmente probablement sa réactivité par rapport à celle du POE -allyle. L'influence des divers paramètres expérimentaux tels que la température, le temps de réaction et la concentration en catalyseur sur le rendement de la réaction de greffage a été étudiée par SEC et RMN du proton. Ces études ont permis d'établir les conditions de réaction optimales de réaction.Une fois isolée du produit brut de réaction par précipitation fractionnée, les étoiles de POE ont été caractérisées par diffusion de la lumière afin de déterminer leur masse molaire absolue et leur fonctionnalité. L'absence de fonctions Si-H résiduels a été confirmée par IR et

	Résumé Résumé	Page xxxix Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as Page xliii
					building blocks in macromolecular engineering
	d'octakis(dimethylsilyloxy)silsesquioxane (Q 8 M 8 H) a été étudié. Les différents polymères ainsi obtenus ont été caractérisés systématiquement par SEC, IR et RMN du proton. J'ai également tiré parti des fonctions terminales méthacryliques de ces mêmes POEs 1.4. Conclusion pour essayer de synthétiser, par l'intermédiaire de réaction "click", des POEs à structure en
	étoile tétrafonctionnelles décorées avec des groupements undécènyle en extrémité de 1.3.3.1. A partir de POE -méthoxy--allyle L'objectif principal de ma thèse portait sur la synthèse contrôlée et la caractérisation branche en faisant appel au tétrakis (3-mercaptopropionate) comme précurseur du coeur de
	Un premier exemple d'étoile de POE à coeur POSS a été discuté dans le chapitre deux. d'architectures macromoléculaires complexes originales à base de POE: POE l'étoile. La réaction avec des groupements méthacrylates conduit effectivement à la
	Ces étoiles de POE ont été synthétisées par couplage par hydrosilylation de hétérofonctionnels dotés quantitativement en extrémité de chaînes de groupements formation d'étoiles à quatre branches de POE. Il a également été montré que les doubles
	macromonomères de POE -méthoxy--allyle avec une cage octafonctionnelle, Q 8 M 8 H, undécènyle, méthacrylate ou acétylène, copolymères à blocs PI-b-POE, POE à structures en liaisons undécènyle ne sont pas affectées lors de la réaction. Ces doubles liaisons sont donc
	décorée de huit fonctions Si-H en présence d'un catalyseur de « Speier ». Des POEs -peignes fonctionnels et matériaux hybrides à structure en étoile à base de POE. disponibles pour d'autres réactions.
	méthoxy--allyle de masse molaire respectivement de 1 900 et 4 600 g / mol ont été choisis. Les groupements hydroxyles des POEs -undécènyle--hydroxy ont aussi été utilisés
	pour	préparer	des	macromonomères	de	POE	-undécènyle--acétylène
				Gladys Pozza Gladys Pozza Gladys Pozza

1.3.3. POE à structure en étoile à huit branches

Les deuxièmes et cinquièmes chapitres de la thèse porteront sur les POEs à structure en étoile. La synthèse de polymères à structures en étoile à base de POE a fait l'objet de nombreux travaux et diverses stratégies ont été développées pour accéder à des POEs à structure en étoile, caractérisées par des branches de masse molaire bien définie et de fonctionnalité bien contrôlée. Les étoiles de POE caractérisées par des coeurs organiques de nature chimique variée et de fonctionnalité bien contrôlée sont maintenant facilement accessibles. Peu d'études ont porté sur la synthèse de matériaux hybrides ramifiés à base de POE notamment sur des polymères inorganiques / organiques à structure en étoile. La présence dans ces matériaux de coeur inorganiques devrait leur conférer une meilleure stabilité thermique et mécanique.

Cela nous a amené à consacrer des études approfondies à la synthèse contrôlée de polymères en forme d'étoile (POE / POSS). Pour se faire, le greffage par hydrosilylation des extrémités terminales (allyle ou undécènyle) de POEs sur les groupements Si-H La mesure SEC, réalisée après réaction de greffage, met en évidence la présence de deux pics. Le premier pic, aux faibles volumes d'élutions, peut être attribué à un polymère de masse molaire élevée (a priori l'étoile), alors que le deuxième, aux volumes d'élutions élevés, correspond au macromonomère, non incorporé, ajouté en léger excès. La cinétique de la réaction a été suivie par RMN du proton. Les expériences de greffage préliminaires ont démontré que la réaction doit être effectuée avec un rapport molaire [-méthoxy--allyle POE] / [Q 8 M 8 H] d'au moins 10, pour éviter la présence des fonctions Si-H résiduelles. Dans ces conditions, des étoiles de POE, caractérisées par des branches des masses molaires jusqu'à 4 600 g / mol ont pu être. Une précipitation fractionnée a permis d'isoler le polymère à structure en étoile du produit brut de réaction. La diffusion de la lumière, réalisée sur le polymère purifié, donne accès à la valeur de leur masse molaire absolue et de permet de déterminer le nombre de branches greffées sur la cage, Q 8 M 8 H. Les études par RMN du proton et du carbone ainsi que l'infra-rouge ont confirmé le greffage quantitatif des branches et l'absence de fonctions Si-H. Une fonctionnalité moyenne de huit a été mesurée.

Une étude approfondie de ces étoiles a été effectuée par MALDI-ToF MS et a confirmé la masse molaire et la fonctionnalité de ces étoiles de POE hybride. Les valeurs sont en bon accord avec celles mesurées par diffusion de la lumière.

1.3.3.2. A partir de POE -méthoxy--undécènyle

L'utilisation du POE -méthoxy--undécènyle dans l'élaboration des étoiles de POE / POSS aurait plusieurs avantages. La présence d'un espaceur hydrophobe entre le POSS et les chaînes de POE peut améliorer la réactivité lors de la réaction d'hydrosilylation. Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza RMN du proton. La RMN du silicium a permis de confirmer que la « cage » Q 8 M 8 H n'avait pas été modifiée lors de la réaction et la formation de la liaison Si-C entre le coeur et les chaînes de POE. Les mesures par MALDI-ToF MS ont fourni des informations sur la masse molaire et la fonctionnalité de l'étoile. Des mesures de calorimétrie à balayage différentiel (DSC) et de diffusion des rayons X aux petits angles (SAXS) ont été effectuées sur les mêmes échantillons. Avec les résultats de SAXS, différents courbes ont pu être tracés et permettent de confirmer la fonctionnalité de huit. Ces mesures ont aussi donné accès au rayon de l'étoile ainsi qu'au rayon de giration. La cristallisation des étoiles de POE a été étudiée par microscopie optique. Pour la synthèse de POE -undécènyle--hydroxy, j'ai fait appel à la PAOC de l'oxyde d'éthylène en utilisant l'undécènolate de potassium comme amorceur. J'ai ainsi pu accéder à des POEs -undécènyle--hydroxy bien définis couvrant un large domaine de masse molaire. Les caractéristiques structurales des polymères ainsi obtenus sont en tous points conformes à celles attendues. L'aspect le plus original de cette partie de ma thèse porte sur la mise au point d'un amorceur sous forme de poudre qui présente plusieurs avantages par rapport à l'undécènolate de potassium préparé in-situ. Ainsi la « poudre active » peut être facilement pesée dans des conditions inertes, après dispersion dans le solvant, et introduite directement dans le réacteur. La synthèse automatisée par PAOC de l'oxyde d'éthylène de POE -undécènyle--hydroxy est donc parfaitement envisageable, et constitue une perspective intéressante de cette thèse. Le comportement en solution de ces macromonomères de POE a été étudié dans le méthanol et dans l'eau par diffusion de la lumière statique. L'influence du groupe undécènyle sur leur comportement en solution a également été étudiée par viscosimétrie. Ces structures à base de macromonomères de POE amphiphiles pourraient être utiles pour de nombreuses applications, par exemple, pour la modification de surfaces fonctionnelles destinées à des applications biomédicales. Comme décrit dans la thèse, le groupement hydroxyle peut être facilement modifié. Des macromonomères de POE hétérobifonctionnels -undécènyle--méthacrylate décorés aux extrémités de chaîne par des doubles liaisons de réactivités différentes ont ainsi pu être obtenus. Cette différence de réactivité entre le groupement undécènyle et le groupement méthacrylate m'a permis de préparer, par ATRP dans l'eau, des POEs hydrosolubles à structure en peigne. Ces polymères ramifiés portent aux extrémités de branches des fonctions réactives, susceptibles d'être engagées dans des réactions chimiques ultérieures. hétérobifonctionnels décorés à une extrémité par un groupement undécènyle et à l'autre par un groupement acétylène. En faisant réagir ces macromonomères, par réaction « click » avec le polyisoprène -azoture, on devrait pouvoir obtenir des copolymères à blocs PI-b-POE. De tels copolymères suscitent un intérêt croissant non seulement en raison de leur aptitude à s'auto-organiser mais aussi de par leurs applications très diverses. J'ai effectivement réussi à accéder à de tels copolymères comme le confirment les résultats des caractérisations moléculaires et structurales réalisées par SEC, RMN et IR sur ces échantillons. Les étapes de purification de ces copolymères sont toutefois longues et délicates. Il s'agit probablement du premier exemple de copolymères à blocs PI-b-POE obtenus par chimie « click ». L'approche que j'ai sélectionnée présente l'avantage, par rapport à la méthode classique, d'être applicable dans un large domaine de masse molaire. Son principal intérêt réside cependant dans la présence des doubles liaisons undécènyles en extrémité de la séquence POE utilisables pour des réactions ultérieures, comme par exemple, pour la fixation de colorants ou d'unités de sucre permettant des applications intéressantes en sciences de la vie. Une autre approche a également été utilisée avec succès pour la préparation de macromonomères de POE. Elle fait appel à la réaction des extrémités de chaîne de POE méthoxy--hydroxy avec du bromure d'allyle ou du 1-bromo-11-undécène soit après métallation par le DMPK, soit en présence d'un large excès de NaH. Après purification et caractérisation, ces POEs ont servi à la synthèse d'architectures macromoléculaires à structure en étoile par réaction d'hydrosilylation entre la double liaison terminale du POE et Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza les fonctions Sipar RMN du proton. La RMN du silicium a permis de confirmer le greffage. Les mesures par MALDI-ToF MS ont fourni des informations sur la masse molaire et la fonctionnalité de l'étoile. Des mesures de calorimétrie à balayage différentiel (DSC) et de diffusion des rayons X aux petits angles (SAXS) ont été effectuées sur les mêmes échantillons. La cristallisation des étoiles de POE a été étudiée par microscopie optique. Ces étoiles de POE dotées de coeur silesquioxanes constituent de nouveaux matériaux aux caractéristiques thermiques et thermomécaniques améliorées.

  .1.1.1. Ethylene oxide ................................................................................................................................. Macromonomers ...................................................................................................................................... PEO macromonomers prepared by deactivation ............................................................................ 1.2.2.3. Heterobifunctional PEO macromonomers ...................................................................................... 1.3. Polyisoprene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) ....................................................................................................... Arm-first" method ......................................................................................................................... POSS ................................................................................................................................. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... List of schemes ................................................................................................................................................ List of references ...........................................................................................................................................

	11-bromo-1-undecene. The second part concerns with the coupling, via hydrosilylation, of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers with silsesquioxanes cores (Q 8 M 8 H ) decorated with eight antagonist Si-H functions to yield star-shaped structures in the presence of a "Karstedt" catalyst. Chapter 1. .......................................................................................... 1.1.4.5. Phosphazene bases ......................................................................................................................... 1.1.4.6. Aluminum complexes ...................................................................................................................... 1.2. 1.2.1. General introduction .................................................................................................................. 1.2.2. Poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers ....................................................................................... 1.2.2.1. PEO macromonomers prepared by initiation.................................................................................. 1.2.2.2. 1.3.1. Synthesis ..................................................................................................................................... 1.3.2. Synthesis via click chemistry ....................................................................................................... 1.4. PEO star-shaped polymers and silsesquioxanes ....................................................................................... 1.4.1. PEO star-shaped polymers ......................................................................................................... 1.4.1.1. "Core-first" method ........................................................................................................................ building blocks in macromolecular engineering 1.4.4. PEO / Chapter 1 Page 55 1.1. Polymers and polymerization process 1.1.1. History of polymers Polymers or materials based on polymers are the most commonly man-made matters used in a wide range of applications. They are present more and more in daily life in the modern societies. In this part, some important aspects are discussed. The term polymer was described for the first time by J. Berzelius. 1 This definition was modified with the years for a giant or macromolecule constructed by multiple repeating units joined together by covalent bonds. 2 Polyisoprene (PI) is one of the first known polymers, a natural example, discovered by C. M. de La Condamine and F. Fresneau de la Gataudière. The authors described the properties of rubber in 1755. 3 This polymer was cross-linked by addition of sulfur (vulcanization) by C. Goodyear and T. Hancock, in 1844. 4,5 Polystyrene (PS) was discovered in 1839 by E. Simon 6 and the structure was confirmed by H. Staudinger. Ethylene oxide (EO) was discovered in 1835 by A. Wurtz. More explanations on this discovery will be given in the next section. During the nineteenth century, H. Staudinger has classified macromolecules: 7 A large covalently bonded organic chain molecule containing more than 10 3 atoms. 1.1.1.1. Ethylene oxide EO was first prepared by A. Wurtz by treating ethylene glycol with hydrochloric acid to obtain ethylene chlorohydrine followed by reaction of potassium hydroxide (Scheme 1). 8 building blocks in macromolecular engineering Scheme 1: Schematical representation of the reaction of ethylene glycol with hydrochloric acid and ethylene 1.4.1.2. "Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as chlorohydrin with potassium hydroxide.
	Gladys Pozza Gladys Pozza Gladys Pozza

Bibliography 1.1. Polymers and polymerization process ...................................................................................................... 1.1.1. History of polymers .................................................................................................................... 11.1.2. Principle of polymerization ......................................................................................................... 1.1.2.1. Step-growth polymerization ........................................................................................................... 1.1.2.2. Chain polymerization ...................................................................................................................... 1.1.2.2.1 Radical polymerization ............................................................................................................. 1.1.2.2.2 Atom transfer radical polymerization ATRP ............................................................................. 1.1.2.3. Ionic polymerization ........................................................................................................................ 1.1.3. Anionic polymerization ............................................................................................................... 1.1.4. Polymerization of ethylene oxide ............................................................................................... 1.1.4.1. First synthesis .................................................................................................................................. 1.1.4.2. Initiators .......................................................................................................................................... 1.1.4.3. Some remarks on the AROP of EO .................................................................................................. 1.1.4.4. Cryptands ..............................................1.4.2. Controlled polymerization process and click chemistry .............................................................. 1.4.3. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes .......................................................................................

  Wang et al. synthesized PS by repetitive atom transfer radical additions in the

	The first ATRP with PEO macromonomers was studied by X.-S. Wang and S. P. Armes
	on oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) (seven and eight EO units) in
	aqueous solution in the presence of initiator (several types were tested) and CuCl/bipy. The
	examples led to the formation of homopolymer OEGMA with a narrow molar mass
	distribution. 21,22 The authors tested also poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate
	PEGMA (45 EO units). S.-I. Yamamoto et al. used the ATRP of di(ethylene glycol) methyl
	ether methacrylate and tri(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (two and three EO
	units) for the synthesis of copolymers in the presence of CuBr/bipy in acetone. 23 S. Buathong
	et al. prepared comb-shaped PEOs via ATRP of -methacryloyloxy PEO macromonomers or
	hydrogel PEOs via ATRP of -methacryloyloxy PEO macromonomers. First the synthesis
	and the characterization of these macromonomers was performed. Secondly, the comb-
	shaped PEOs were synthetized by ATRP with an initiator ratio of 0.02; the average
	homopolymerization degree values were rather low (from four to five). In contrast, when an
	initiator/polymerizable entities ratio of 0.06 was used, the homopolymerization yield was
	significantly higher, up to 85 wt.%, and the molar mass distribution of the resulting comb-
	shaped PEO was rather sharp. The influence of several experimental parameters, including
	the solvent (water or toluene), or the initiating conditions, on the physicochemical
	properties of hydrogels obtained by ATRP was studied. 24
		1.1.2.3. Ionic polymerization
	Contrary to radical polymerization, in ionic polymerization the active site is anion or
	cation. These cations or anions play, associated by counter ions, an important role in the
	polymerization mechanism. No termination reaction occurs (if no termination agents are
	present) and after complete consumption of the monomer, the active ends are still present.
	presence of an alkyl chloride, 1-phenylethyl chloride as an initiator and a transition-metal
	halide, copper chloride, complexed by 2,2'-bipyridine as a catalyst and produced a well-
	defined high molar mass polymers with narrow molar mass distributions. 17
	M. Kato et al. studied the controlled polymerization of methyl methacrylate with a
	ternary	initiating	system	consisting	of	carbon	tetrachloride	CCl 4 ,
	dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) RuCl 2 (PPh 3 ) 3 , and methylaluminum bis-(2,6-di-
	tert-butylphenoxi) MeAl(ODBP) 2 . 18

  or in methanol, M n < 10000 g/mol, do not contain aggregates. On the contrary W. F. Polik and W. Burchard 62 observed that aggregates are formed with M n > 20000 g/mol. Many other studies were conducted on the solution behavior of PEO in water or methanol. From all these studies it could be concluded that methanol constitutes one of the best solvents for PEO. The problem of aggregation of PEO has been investigated

	have shown many years ago by vapor pressure
	osmometry and light scattering (LS) that PEO chains aggregate in acetonitrile, dioxane,
	benzene and carbon tetrachloride. However, no aggregation was observed in water,
	methanol and dimethylformamide. Many studies were also conducted on the determination
	of the structural parameters of PEOs by measuring intrinsic viscosity values in water. 59 The
	evolution of the instrinsic viscosity of PEO with molar mass was established for water,

methanol and DMF. C.

Strazielle 60,61

demonstrated by LS measurements that the PEO Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza solutions in water

  -made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza synthesis of star-shaped PEO polymers is based on the development of "core-first" strategies giving access to star-shaped species with functionalizable end-groups 122,128 at the outer end of the branches. The existence of these functionalizable star-shaped polymers opened new perspectives in the domain of macromolecular engineering. Below some typical examples of star-shaped PEO polymers will be presented and discussed.1.4.1.1. "Core-first" method Gnanou et al. used the "core-first" method for the preparation of star-shaped PEO. A polyfunctional initiator based on the reaction between potassium naphthalide and divinylbenzene was applied for the AROP of EO. The authors also described the possibility to access three-arms star PEOs via AROP of EO initiated by DPMK on trimethylolpropane.

126,127

are reacted with low molar mass multifunctional compounds with antagonist functions. The major progress in the Tailor121

Well-defined PEO multiarm stars 129 characterized by high functionality were also prepared by R. Knischka et al. in a "core-first" strategy. Hyperbranched polyglycerol as well as polyglycerol modified with short oligo(propylene oxide) segments were deprotonated with DPMK and used as polyfunctional initiators for the AROP of EO to prepare functionalizable PEO stars.

Based on the same idea, multiarm PEO-star polymers, with a purely aliphatic polyether structure have been synthesized with different molar masses in a direct "grafting from" polymerization of EO from a multifunctional initiator. Hyperbranched poly(glycerol) precursor systems were partially deprotonated using CsOH H 2 O or potassium naphthalide to initiate AROP of EO was performed. The PEO arms were characterized by MALDI-ToF MS.

130

  Schematical representation of the reaction of ethylene glycol with hydrochloric acid and ethylene chlorohydrin with potassium hydroxide. .............................................................................................................. Scheme 2: Schematical representation of the reaction between ethylene and oxygen (taken from ref. 9 ). ........ Scheme 3: Schematical representation of the ATRP process (taken from ref 17 ). ................................................ Scheme 4: Schematical representation of the initiation step (the counter ions are omitted) (taken from ref. 27 ). .............................................................................................................................................................................. Scheme 5: Schematical representation of the reaction between anionic or cationic initiators with EO (taken from ref. 29 ). ........................................................................................................................................................... Scheme 6: Schematical representation of the reaction between EO and water. .................................................

	Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as
	building blocks in macromolecular engineering
	PEO chains grafted on POSS allows to access hybrid organic/inorganic nano-object. PEO star-shaped with one or eight PEO branches can be elaborated via hydrosilylation on List of schemes
	POSS compound.
	This discussion has oriented the work of the presented thesis to the synthesis of PEO Scheme 1:
	macromonomers. The first approach (undecenolate initiator) is employed in situ or in
	powder form, for the EO polymerization. -Undecene--hydroxy heterobifunctional PEO
	macromonomers can be obtained with high molar masses and low polydispersity index
	values. The advantage of the hydroxy groups is the possible modification of the PEO chain-
	ends in -undecene--methacryloyl or -undecene--acetylene PEO macromonomers.
	Gladys Pozza

Methacryloyl groups can be reacted to form star or comb-shaped PEOs with free terminal undecenyl double bonds via thiol-ene click reaction or ATRP in water. -Undecene-acetylene PEO macromonomers can be coupled via click chemistry with -azido PI to obtain PI-b-PEO. -Azido PI can be prepared by chain-end modification of -hydroxy PI. The second approach allows the preparation of -allyl and -undecenyl PEO macromonomers starting from commercial-hydroxy terminated PEOs. The grafting of these PEOs on the Q 8 M 8

H via hydrosilylation will be discussed. Scheme 7: Schematical representation of the reaction between EO and glycol. ................................................. Scheme 8: Schematical representation of the reaction of an alcohol and EO (taken from ref. 16 ). ...................... Scheme 9: Schematical representation of the reaction between monomethylether of diethylene glycol and sodium or potassium. ............................................................................................................................................

Scheme 10: Schematical representation of the reaction between DPMK and EO. .............................................. Scheme 11: Schematical representation of the cryptand [222]. .......................................................................... Scheme 12: Schematical representation of polymerization of EO initiated by carbazylpotassium (taken from ref. 65 ). .................................................................................................................................................................... Scheme 13: Schematical representation of phosphazene base t-BuP 4 . ............................................................... Scheme 14: Schematical representation of polymerization of EO in the presence of phosphazene base t-BuP 4 (taken from ref. 69 ). ................................................................................................................................................ Scheme 15: Schematical representation of polymerization of EO initiated by -methylbenzyl cyanide or p-cresol (taken from ref. 70 ). ................................................................................................................................................ Scheme 16: Schematical representation of triethyllaluminum, triisobutylaluminium and one example of a sulfur-bridged polyphenol..................................................................................................................................... Scheme 17: Schematical representation of the EO polymerization with triisobutylaluminum (taken from ref. ). ..............................................................................................................................................................................

  ). Process for the production of ethylene oxide france, 1935.(10) Britton, E. C.; Nutting, H. S.; Petrie, P. S.: Manufacture of olefine oxides. 1938.(11) Lenher, S.: The direct reaction between oxygen and ethylene. J. Am.Chem. Soc. 1931, 53, 2420-2421. (12) Griffith, C. L.; Hall , L. A.: Sterilizing foodstuffs 1938. (13) Carothers, W. H.: Studies on polymerization ring formation. 1. an introduction to the general theory of condensation polymers. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1929, 51, 2548-2559. (14) Carothers, W. H.: Linear condensation polymers. 1937. (15) Carothers, W. H.: Polymers and polyfunctionality. Transactions of the Faraday Society 1936, 32, 39-49. (16) Flory, P. J.: Principles of polymer chemistry; Cornell University Press: New York, 1953. (17) Wang, J.-S.; Matyjaszewski, K.: Controlled/"living" radical polymerization. Atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of transition-metal complexes. J. Am. -made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering (145) Kuo, S.-W.; Chang, F.-C.: POSS related polymer nanocomposites. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2011, 36, 1649-1696. (146) Cardoen, G.; Coughlin, B. E.: Hemi-telechelic polystyrene-POSS copolymers as model systems for the study of well-defined inorganic/organic hybrid materials; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, ETATS-UNIS, 2004; Vol. 37. (147) Knischka, R.; Dietsche, F.; Hanselmann, R.; Frey, H.; Mülhaupt, R.; Lutz, P. J.: Silsesquioxane-Based Amphiphiles. Langmuir 1999, 15, 4752-4756. (148) Chiu, C.-Y.; Chen, H.-W.; Kuo, S.-W.; Huang, C.-F.; Chang, F.-C.: Investigating the effect of miscibility on the ionic conductivity of LiClO 4 /PEO/PCL ternary blends. Macromolecules 2004, 37, 8424-8430. (149) Maitra, P.; Wunder, S. L.: Oligomeric poly(ethylene oxide)-functionalized silsesquioxanes: interfacial effects on T g , T m and H m . Chem. Mater. 2002, 14, 4494-4497. (150) Markovic, E.; Ginic-Markovic, M.; Clarke, S.; Matisons, J.; Hussain, M.; Simon, G. P.: Poly(ethylene glycol)-octafunctionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane: synthesis and thermal analysis. Macromolecules 2007, 40, 2694-2701.

			List of references Chapter 2
	(1) (2)	Berzelius , J.: Fysik och Kemi; P. A. Norsterd and Söner: Stockholm, 1832; Vol. 12. Seymour, R. B.; Carraher, C. E.: Polymer chemistry: an introduction; American Chemical Society, 1988; Vol. 8. -Allyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and
	(3)	Figuier, L.: Les merveilles de l'industrie; Jouvet et C ie : Paris, 1873; Vol. 2.
	(4)	Goodyear, C.: Improvement in felting india-rubber with cotton fiber. 1844.
	(5) (6)	Goodyear, H. B.: Improvement in manufacture of hard rubber. 1958. Simon, E.: Ueber den flüssigen Storax (Styrax liquidus). Annalen der Pharmacie 1839, hybrid star-shaped polymers
		31, 265-277.
	(7)	Staudinger, H.: Über die Hydrierung des Kautschuks und über seine Konstitution,
		1922; Vol. 5.
	(8)	McClellan, P. P.: Manufacture and Uses of Ethylene Oxide and Ethylene Glycol. Ind.
		Eng. Chem. 1950, 42, 2402-2407.
	(9)	Lefort, T. E.: Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 5614-5615.
	(18) Kato, M.; Kamigaito, M.; Sawamoto, M.; Higashimura, T.: Polymerization of methyl
		methacrylate	with	the	carbon	tetrachloride/dichlorotris-
		(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II)/methylaluminum bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide)
		initiating system: Possibility of living radical polymerization. Macromolecules 1995,
		28, 1721-1723.
	(19) Coullerez, G.; Carlmark, A.; Malmström, E.; Jonsson, M.: Understanding Copper-Based
		Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization in Aqueous Media. J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108,
		7129-7131.
	(20) Boutevin, B.; Boyer, C.; David, G.; Lutz, P. J.: Synthesis of Macromonomers and
		Telechelic Oligomers by Living Polymerizations. In Macromolecular Engineering;
		Matyjaszewski, K., Gnanou, Y., Leibler, L., Eds.; Wiley-VCH Verlag: Weinheim, 2007;
		Vol. 2; pp 775-812.
	(21) Wang, X.-S.; Lascelles, S. F.; Jackson, R. A.; Armes, S. P.: Facile synthesis of well-

defined water-soluble polymers via atom transfer radical polymerization in aqueous media at ambient temperature. Chem. Commun. 1999, 1817-1818. Tailor2.1. Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 113 2.2. Article 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 115 Gladys M.-E. Pozza, Hassan Harris, Markus J. Barthel, Jürgen Vitz, Ulrich S. Schubert*, Pierre J. Lutz* "Macromonomers as well-defined building blocks in the synthesis of hybrid octafunctional star-shaped poly(ethylene oxide)s" Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2013, 20, 2181-2191

  10- undecene-1-ol (Aldrich, 98%) was purified by distillation over CaH 2 under reduced pressure and kept under argon atmosphere. Methacrylic anhydride (Aldrich, 94%) and triethylamine Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 137 Gladys Pozza detector and a Shimadzu SPD 10 Avp UV detector. THF with a flow rate of 1 mL/min was used as solvent. Calibration was made with PEO standards from Polymer Laboratories with molar masses from 194 to 22,800 g/mol. SEC measurements were also performed on a SEC Shimadzu SCL-10A system controller with LC-10AD pump, a RID-10A refractive index detector and a PL gel 5 μm Mixed-D column at 25 °C. A mixture of chloroform:triethylamine:iso-propanol (94:4:2) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min was used as solvent. Calibration was made with linear monodisperse PEO standards from PSS (Polymer Standards Service GmbH, Mainz, Germany) with molar masses from 1,470 to 23,600 g/mol.

	2.2. Measurements
	2.2.1 Size exclusion chromatography (SEC)
	Number average molar mass (M n ), weight average molar mass (M

(Aldrich, 99.5%) were used as received. 2,2'-Azobis(2-methyl propionitrile) (AIBN) (Acros) was purified by crystallization. Copper I bromide (Aldrich, 98%) was stirred 5 hours in acetic acid, filtered, washed with ethanol and dried in vacuum. 2,2′-Bipyridine (bipy) (Aldrich), 2,2dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) (Aldrich, 99%) and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3mercaptopropionate) (Aldrich, 95%) were used as received. N,N,N',N'',N''pentamethyldiethylene triamine (PMDETA) (Aldrich, 99%) and propargyl bromide (Aldrich, 80 wt.% in toluene) were used as received. Diphenylmethyl potassium (DPMK) was synthesized in the laboratory according to a well-established procedure

[43]

. The functionalization reactions were conducted in classical glass vessels under a slight argon pressure. The ethylene oxide polymerization was conducted in a classic glass apparatus or in a BüchiGlasUster "PicoClave" pressure reactor. w ) and the polydispersity index (PDI) value of the different PEO samples were determined by SEC at RT on a Shimadzu SIL-20A system controller with a LC-20AD pump, a RID-10A refractive index

  CH  (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 )

	H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 5.8 (m, 1H, CH=CH 2 ), 5.1 (m, 2H, CH=CH 2 ), 3.63.8 (m, 4H*n, OCH 2 CH 2 ), 2.0 (m, 2H, CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.5 (m, 2H, CH 2 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.11.3 (m, 2H*7, Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 141 2.3.3 Synthesis of -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers by chain-end modification with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine The sample EOp-und3 (see Table 2) (M n = 3,300 g/mol, 1 g, 3.03  10 -4 mol) was dissolved in dry CH 2 Cl 2 then triethylamine (1.5 eq, 0.06 mL, 4.55  10 -4 mol,) and methacrylic anhydride (1.5 eq, 0.07 mL, 4.55  10 -4 mol) were added. The reaction was kept at RT for 4 days. The solvent was evaporated, the PEO was dissolved in DMSO then precipitated in diethyl ether and filtered. This procedure was repeated but the polymer was dissolved in THF. The functionalized PEOs were characterized by SEC, 1 H NMR and MALDI-TOF MS. 1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 6.1 (s, 1H, CH 3 C=CH 2 ), 5.8 (m, 1H, CH=CH 2 ), 5.5 (s, 1H, CH 3 C=CH 2 ), 4.9 (m, 2H, CH=CH 2 ), 4.3 (t, 2H, CH 2 OC=O), 3.63.8 (m, 4H*n, OCH resulting polymer was dissolved in THF, precipitated in diethyl ether, filtered, dried and characterized by SEC and 1 H NMR. 1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 5.8 (m, 1H, CH=CH 2 ), 5.1 (m, 2H, building blocks in macromolecular engineering (m, 2H*7, CH(CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ). FTIR (cm -1 ): 3260 (C≡CH, stretching), (2880 (CH, CH=CH Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as stretching), 1467 (CH 2 , deformation), 1100 (CO, stretching).
	Gladys Pozza Gladys Pozza

2 CH 2 ), 2.0 (m, 2H, CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.9 (s, 3H, CH 3 C=CH 2 ), 1.5 (m, 2H,

CH 2 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.11.3 (m, 2H*7, CH 2 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ) 2.3.4 Synthesis of -undecenyl--acetylene PEO

The hydroxyl functions of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO (2,000 g/mol, 4.5 g, 2.15  10 -3 mol) were transformed into alcoholates by addition of a stoichiometric amount of DPMK (around 2.59 mL, DMPK concentration 0.85  10 -3 mol/L) at room temperature (stoichiometry determined by colorimetry). In the next step, propargyl bromide (2 eq., 0.38 mL, 5  10 -3 mol) was added to the PEO solution. The slight yellow coloration disappeared rapidly. The reaction medium was kept at room temperature overnight. The polymer solutions were centrifuged in toluene. The solvent was evaporated. The 2 ), 4.3 (s, 2H, CH 2 C≡CH), 3.63.8 (m, 4H*n, OCH 2 CH 2 ), 2.4 (s, 1H, C≡CH) 2.0 (m, 2H, CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.5 (m, 2H, CH 2 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.11.3

TABLE 1

 1 Molecular characteristics of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers synthesized by AROP of oxirane, potassium undecenolate being used as initiator (polymerization solvent THF).

	Sample	Time (h)	Temp. (°C)	[EO] (mol)	M n th. (g/mol) a	M n calc. (g/mol) b	M n ( g/mol) c	M w d (g/mol)	f (g/mol) PDI e M n
							SEC	SEC		MALDI
	EO-und1	48	35	0.45 2,000	1,760	1,750	1,800	1.05 1,800
	EO-und2	48	35	0.45 2,000	1,800	1,800	1,900	1.05	-
	EO-und3	48	35	0.45 2,000	1,800	1,800	1,900	1.05 1,900
	EO-und4	48	35	0.45 5,000	3,600	3,600	3,900	1.08	-
	EO-und5	48	35	0.45 5,000	4,500	4,500	5,100	1.14	-
	EO-und6	48	35	0.45 5,000	4,900	5,400	5,800	1.08	-
	EO-und7* 24	45	0.11 5,000	2,300	2,700	3,000	1.11	-
	EO-und8	48	45	0.45 10,000 9,500	10,200 11,200 1.10 11,200
	EO-und9	24	50	0.22 10,000 8,100	8,800	9,200	1.15 10,500
	EO-und10 48	50	0.22 10,000 7,600	8,900	9,700	1.09 9,500
	EO-und11 48	40	0.27 10,000 7,700	9,300	9,500	1.04 10,300
	EO-und12 48	40	0.58 25,000 22,000 23,000 25,000 1.11 26,000

a Theoretical number average molar mass of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs, assuming total conversion; b Theoretical number average molar mass of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs calculated taking into account the polymerization yield; c Number average molar mass of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; d Weight average molar mass of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; e PDI of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs (M W /M n ) determined by SEC; f Number average molar mass of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs, measured MALDI-TOF MS. * This sample was obtained by AROP of oxirane, a mixture of undecenol and potassium undecenolate being used as initiator (20 mol % of DPMK).

TABLE 2 Molecular

 2

	Sample	Time	Temp.	[EO]	M n th. a	M n calc.	b	M n	c	M w	d	PDI e M n	f	M n	g
		(h)	(°C)	(mol)	(g/mol)	(g/mol)	(g/mol)	(g/mol)		(g/mol)	(g/mol)
								SEC	SEC		MALDI	1 H NMR
	EOp-und1	24	45	0.34 2,000	1,800		2,100	2,200	1.04	-		2,500
	EOp-und2	24	45	0.11 3,000	3,500		3,000	3,200	1.06	3,100	2,900
	EOp-und3	24	45	0.22 5,000	2,700		3,300	3,500	1.06	3,700	3,700
	EOp-und4	72	40	0.22 5,000	3,700		4,100	4,300	1.06	3,500	4,700
	EOp-und5	96	45	0.34 10,000 10,800 7,500	7,900	1.05	7,500	7,800
	EOp-und6	24	40	0.45 15,000 13,700 14,000	15,300	1.09	13,700	13,600
	EOp-und7	24	40	0.22 20,000 14,600 14,000	15,000	1.09	14,600	17,200
	EOp-und8	24	40	0.34 20,000 17,800 19,300	21,700	1.13	19,600	-
	EOp-und9* 48	50	0.22 30,000 28,100 35,400	37,700	1.06	31,700	-
	EOp-und10* 144	40	0.59 50,000 36,600 38,000	41,000	1.1	32,600	-
	EOp-und11* 72	45	0.22 50,000 39,400 44,000	47,000	1.07	39,500	-
	EOp-und12 72	45	0.22 50,000 43,400 44,800	47,600	1.06	43,000	-

characteristics of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEO macromonomers synthesized by initiation with a powder initiator.

TABLE 3 Molecular

 3

	Sample	M n (g/mol) a	M n (g/mol) b	M w c (g/mol)	M n (g/mol) d	PDI e	(%)	f f
		SEC	SEC	SEC	MALDI		1 H NMR
	PEOund-MA1	2,100	2,300	2,500	-	1.05		90
	PEOund-MA2	3,000	3,100	3,200	-	1.03		100
	PEOund-MA3	3,300	3,400	3,600	3,900	1.06		100
	PEOund-MA4	3,300	3,400	3,600	-	1.06		90
	PEOund-MA5	3,300	3,500	3,700	-	1.06		100
	PEOund-MA6	3,300	3,500	3,700	-	1.06		100

characteristics of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEO macromonomers obtained by chain-end modification with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine. a) Number average molar mass of the -undecenyl--hydroxy PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; b Number average molar mass of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; c Weight average molar mass of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; d Number average molar mass M n of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEOs, measured by MALDI-TOF MS; e PDI of the-undecenyl PEOs (M W /M n ) determined by SEC; f Yield of functionalization of the -undecenyl--methacryloyl PEOs, measured by 1 H NMR (400 MHz) in CDCl 3 .

  H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 , , ppm): 5.8 (m, 1H, CH=CH 2 ), 5.1 (m, 2H, CH=CH 2 ), 4.3 (s, 2H, CH 2 C≡CH), 3.63.8 (m, 4H*n, OCH 2 CH 2 ), 2.4 (s, 1H, C≡CH), 2.0 (m, 2H, CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.5 (m, 2H, CH 2 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ), 1.11.3 (m, 2H*7, CH(CH 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH=CH 2 ). FTIR

	(cm -1 ): 3260 (C≡CH, stretching), (2880 (CH, stretching), 1467 (CH 2 , deformation),
	1100 (CO, stretching).

Table 1 .

 1 Molecular characteristics of hydroxy terminated PIs synthesized by anionic polymerization. Theoretical number average molar mass of the hydroxy PIs calculated taking into account the polymerization yield. c Number average molar mass of the hydroxy PIs, measured by SEC in THF, with online light scattering. d Weight average molar mass of the hydroxy PIs, measured by SEC in THF, with online light scattering. e PDI values of the hydroxy PIs (M w / M n ) determined by SEC in THF, with online light scattering. f Number average molar mass of the hydroxy PIs, measured by 1 H NMR.

	Sample	Time (h)	Temp. (°C)	[I] (mol)	M n th. a (g mol -1 )	b (g mol -1 ) M n calc.	M n (SEC / LS; c g mol -1 )	M w (SEL / LS; d g mol -1 )	PDI e)	f ( 1 H NMR; M n g mol -1 )
	PI 2 OH 24	40	0.10 2 000	1 891	2 220	2 440	1.09 2 100
	PI 1 OH 24	40	0.15 5 000	4 750	5 840	5 850	1.01 4 600
	PI 3 OH 24	40	0.20 5 000	4 821	7 180	7 220	1.01 6 500
	PI 6 OH 24	40	0.30 6 000	5 757	6 700	6 970	1.04 6 800
	PI 5 OH 24	40	0.15 7 000	9 200	12 520	12 990	1.03 10 700
	PI 4 OH 24	40	0.20 10 000 9 285	14 740	14 860	1.01 12 600
	a Theoretical number average molar mass of the hydroxy PIs assuming total
	conversion.
	b

  88 mmol) was heated at 110 °C and NaH (0.71 g, 29.41 mmol,) ([PEO]/[NaH] = 1/5 or 1/10) was added.

	After 20 min, 11-bromo-1-undecene (4 eq, 5.16 mL, 23 mmol) was introduced and the
	reaction was kept at 110 °C for 24 h. The PEO solution was then passed through alumina
	columns in dichloromethane (8 g / 10 mL). After evaporation of dichloromethane and
	addition of THF, the PEO was precipitated in diethyl ether and filtered. The functionalized
	PEOs were characterized by SEC, 1 H NMR and MALDI-ToF MS. The same experimental
	procedure was used for the synthesis of the ,-diundecenyl PEOs. 1 H NMR (CDCl3, 400
	MHz): 5.8 (m, 1H, CH=CH2), 5.1 (m, 2H, CH=CH2), 3.6-3.8 (m, 4H*n,
	OCH2CH2), 3.3 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.0 (m, 2H, CH2CH=CH2), 1.5 (m, 2H,

  -4 M Karstedt catalyst solution. The influence of the concentration of catalyst was further investigated. 1 drop of the Karstedt catalyst (0.05 M) in ) and the reaction time was increased to 24 h (star 6). This reaction was also made at a lower polymer concentration (1g for a total volume of 6.3 mL) (star 7 and 8) with 0.3 mL of a 2 × 10 -3 M Karstedt catalyst toluene solution at 40 °C. The reaction was made at

		Tailor-made heretofucntional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization
				as building blocks in macromolecular engineering
	toluene (star 5higher temperatures 80 °C (1 g for a total volume of 6.15 mL) (star 9 at 12) with 0.15 mL of a
	2 × 10 -3 M Karstedt catalyst toluene solution.
	At the end of the reaction, undecene (same quantity that PEO mol number) was added to
	react with the Si-H functions of Q8M8 H (star 10 at 12). This addition prevents the coupling
	between two Si-H functions. All the reaction products were treated as follows. They were
	precipitated directly in diethyl ether, filtered, dried under vacuum to constant weight and
	characterized. 1 H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): 3.6-3.8 (m, 4H*n, OCH2CH2), 3.3 (s, 3H,
	OCH3),	2.1	(m,	2H
				Gladys Pozza

1 mL of polymer solution in toluene was used in the reaction 2 (star 2). Then a 2 × 10 -3 M Karstedt catalyst solution in toluene was used (0.15 mL) with 1 mL of polymer solution in

Table 1 .

 1 Molecular characteristics of the -undecenyl PEO

macromonomers obtained by deactivation with 11-bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH

  Tailor-made heretofucntional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineeringGladys PozzaPEO before heating. Hence, no degradation occurs during the chain-end modification of PEOs with 11-bromo-1-undecene in the presence of NaH. Moreover, also the MALDI-ToF MS spectrum remains unchanged.1 H NMR spectroscopy (FigureS6) was also used for end-group titration and to calculate the functionality of the different reaction products. In addition to the peaks characteristic for the precursor PEO, new peaks corresponding to the CH2=CH protons appear (CH2=CH:  = 5.1 ppm, CH2=CH:  = 5.8 ppm). The average functionality of the PEO macromonomers was determined by integrating the signals of the 1 H NMR spectra, i.e.the peaks at 5.1 ppm (double bond) and the peak at 3.3 ppm (CH3O) of the PEO chain. The different values are provided in Table1. In most cases, the functionalization yield is close to 100% independent of the molar mass of the precursor PEO. The Mn values obtained by SEC and determined by 1 H NMR are in good agreement. The presence of the undecenyl entity at the chain-end was confirmed by MALDI-ToF MS (Figure

		Mn a)	Mn b)	Mw c)	Mn d)		f f)
	Sample	(g mol -1 )	(g mol -1 )	(g mol -1 )	(g mol -1 )	PDI e)	(%)
		SEC	SEC	SEC	MALDI		1 H NMR
	PEO1	1000	1200	1300	1300	1.04	100
	PEO2	1700	1800	1900	2100	1.05	100
	PEO3	1700	1800	1900	2000	1.05	95
	PEO4*	1700	1800	1900	2000	1.05	100
	PEO5*	1700	1800	1900	-	1.05	95
	PEO6*	4600	5100	5500	5100	1.08	90
	PEO7*	4600	5000	5300	-	1.06	99
	PEO8	10900	7600	10400	10400	1.36	89
	PEO9 (di OH)	6000	6500	7100	6500	1.09	100
	f) Yield of functionalization of the -undecenyl PEOs, measured by 1 H NMR (400 MHz) in
	CDCl3.
	*PEO/NaH = 1/5
	From SEC it can be concluded that the sample is almost free of precursor polymer. The
	small shift in the elution volume reflects the addition of the undecenyl end-group. To confirm
	the absence of a degradation of the PEO chain during the functionalization process at 110 °C,

a) Number average molar mass of the precursor PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; b) Number average molar mass of the -undecenyl PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; c) Weight average molar mass of the -undecenyl PEOs, measured by SEC in THF, calibration with linear PEOs; d) Number average molar mass Mn of the -undecenyl PEOs, measured by MALDI-ToF MS; e) PDI of the-undecenyl PEOs (MW /Mn) determined by SEC;

we kept an -methoxy--hydroxy PEO at this temperature for 24 h. The sample was characterized by SEC and MALDI-ToF MS. The SEC curve is identical to that of the same

Table 2 . Molecular characteristics of the PEO star-shaped polymers obtained by grafting via hydrosilylation of

 2 and others10 prepared PEO stars containing a central core by coupling via hydrosilylation of -allyl PEOs with Q8M8 H in the presence of a hydrosilylation catalyst. The products Q8M8 PEO could be characterized after purification by fractional precipitation as well-defined octafunctional PEO stars.We propose in this contribution the use of -undecenyl PEO macromonomers. The undecenyl group should facilitate the accessibility of the double bond for subsequent applications. The reaction between these -undecenyl PEO macromonomers and Q8M8 H is described in Scheme 2. The reaction products were systematically characterized by Tailor-made heretofucntional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineeringGladys Pozzaindependent methods: SEC, 1 H,13 C and29 Si NMR, Infrared spectroscopy, MALDI-ToF MS and SAXS. SEC with RI detection was used to evaluate the amount of PEO grafted onto the octafunctionalized silsesquioxane core. It has to be established whether or not all the undecenyl PEO chains have reacted with the antagonist functions of the octafunctionalized silsesquioxane core. The results are presented in the Table2. -undecenyl PEOs onto Q8M8 H

						Catalyst	Mn a )	Mn b )
	Sample	PEO	Time	Temp.	Toluene	(5 × 10 -4 M)	(g mol -1 )	(g mol -1 )	PDI c )	% star
		(g)	(h)	(°C)	(mL)					SEC
						(mL)	SEC	SEC
	Star1	1	2	40	0.7	0.5	14300	16100	1.12	33
	Star2	1	2	40	1	1 drop	1900	2000	1.05	0
	Star3	1	2	40	0.7	0.5	10800	13500	1.25	13
	Star4	1	2	40	0.7	1	11600	13600	1.17	20
	Star5	1	2	40	1	0.15*	14300	21100	1.48	50
	Star6	1	24	40	1	0.15*	10700	12200	1.14	54
	Star7	1	2	40	5	0.3*	10080	11700	1.16	65
	Star8	1	2	40	5	0.3*	14300	16200	1.13	52
	Star9	1	24	80	5	0.15*	12700	13600	1.07	83
	Star10	1	24	80	5	0.15*	11300	12100	1.06	83
	Star11 1.4	24	80	7	0.2*	11700	12500	1.07	83
	Star12 1.7	24	80	9	0.25*	11700	12700	1.08	83
	* Catalyst at 2 × 10 -3 M
	Number average molar mass of the -undecenyl PEO precursor measured by SEC in THF,
	calibration with linear PEOs: Mn = 1800 g mol -1

Scheme 2. Schematical representation of the synthesis of a Q8M8 PEO star by coupling via hydrosilylation monofunctional -methoxy--undecenyl PEO macromonomers with Q8M8 H in the presence of a Karstedt catalyst

Table 3 . Thermal properties of the

 3

-undecenyl or -allyl PEO

macromonomers and Q8M8 PEO prepared with allyl or undecenyl PEO

		Tm	Tc
	Sample
		(°C)	(°C)
	-methoxy--hydroxy PEO (1700 g mol -1 )	56.3	35.8
	-allyl PEO (1800 g mol -1 )	58.5	34.4
	-undecenyl PEO (1800 g mol -1 )	55.9	27.9
	Q8M8 PEO prepared with -allyl PEO	56.3	28.8
	Q8M8 PEO prepared with -undecenyl PEO	54.3	38.2

blocks in macromolecular engineering

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 147

Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 169

Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 171

Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 175

Chapter 3: -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocksPage 177

Acknowledgements

This research forms part of the research programme of the Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI), project #690. The authors thank Dr. D. Sarazin C. Foussat, J. Quillé, and A. Rameau for their skillful help with polymer characterization, O. Gavat for her help in the synthesis and the characterization of the samples as well as L. Oswald for her help in the preparation of some samples. The authors also acknowledge the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. P. J. Lutz thanks the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany) for financial support. In addition, the authors appreciated the financial support of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for covering travel expenses (PROCOPE programme). They thank also the Thuringian Ministry for Education, Science, and Culture (grant no. B515-07008) for financial support of this study. Acknowledgements This research forms part of the research programme of the Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI technology area HTE, DPI project #690). The authors thank S. Crotty, C. Foussat, M. Legros and J. Quillé, for their support with the polymer characterization, M. Barthel for his help in the synthesis. The authors also acknowledge the CNRS and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. The authors thank the French Ministry of Education and the DAAD for financial support (PROCOPE). P. J. Lutz thanks the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for financial support. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank the Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI, technology area HTE, DPI project #690) for financial support. The authors thank Dr. D. Sarazin, L. Biniek, G. Fleith, C. Foussat, O. Gavat, and J. Quillé for their support with the polymer characterization, L. Oswald for her help in the preparation of some samples. The authors also acknowledge the CNRS and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. The authors thank the French Ministry of Education and the DAAD for financial support (PROCOPE). P. J. Lutz thanks the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for financial support.

Annex 2: Supporting information of article 2 -Undecenyl poly(ethylene oxide)s and potential heterofunctional building blocks Accepted Eur. Polym. J.

This PhD research project has been effected in the under Cotutelle between two universities: The University of Jena, Germany and the University of Strasbourg. I was member of European Doctoral College of the University of Strasbourg during the preparation of my PhD, from 2011 to 2014, the EDC. I have followed a special course on topics of general European interests presented by international experts.

I thank the University of Strasbourg for the support it provided and allowed Je remercie Jean-

building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

Experimental section for the determination of the functionality of commercial PEOs via chemical modification of the chain-ends with 1-naphthyl isocyanate

Table S1. Molecular characteristics of the -naphthyl carbamate PEOs Discussion of the results.

The analysis of the hydroxyl content of commercial monofunctional PEOs revealed that they can be contaminated with critical amounts of bifunctional PEOs. Bifunctional PEOs are characterized by molar masses twice as high as the monofunctional PEO.

Their formation is attributed to the presence of water during the AROP process. They increase the PDI value of the supposedly "monofunctional" PEOs and further increase the average functionality. Moreover, the existence of bifunctional species may lead to undesired crosslinking during the copolymerization of the PEO macromonomers with low molar mass polymerizable species. Hence, unexpected properties may be obtained. To overcome such difficulties, high osmotic pressure chromatography was used successfully to isolate the monofunctional PEO. 1 However, this strategy is time consuming and cannot be envisaged for

Tailor-made heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s via living anionic polymerization as building blocks in macromolecular engineering

Gladys Pozza

the purification of large PEO quantities. As a consequence, it was important to determine the content of hydroxyl functions in the monofunctional PEOs used in the present study. Several approaches have been proposed in the literature to identify the chain-ends and to quantify the hydroxyl content of commercial monofunctional PEOs. This can be achieved directly by means of 1 H NMR 2 or after chain-end modification with trichloroacetyl isocyanate, 3 hexafluoroacetone, 4 or 1-naphthyl isocyanate. 5 Among the different possible approaches, we selected the method based on the modification of the hydroxyl chain-ends for a series of commercial PEOs with 1-naphthyl isocyanate. Naphthyl isocyanates are much more reactive than alkyl isocyanates. If appropriate experimental conditions are selected, the conversion of the hydroxyl functions into naphthyl carbamate groups is quantitative. 5 This reaction was applied to a series of commercial monofunctional PEOs covering a range of molar masses (Mn) from 1000 to 10900 g mol -1 and to a bifunctional sample with a Mn of 6000 g mol -1

(Scheme S1).

Scheme S1. Schematic representation of the synthesis of an -naphthyl carbamate PEO

The functionalization reaction and the treatment of the end-modified PEOs are described below. It should be noted that the different samples had to be submitted to several precipitations to eliminate eventual traces of unreacted labeling agent leading to an overestimation of the functionalization rates. The different samples were characterized by three independent methods (SEC in THF with RI and UV detection, UV spectroscopic analysis and 1 H NMR) to assess the molar masses and polydispersity index values, and to confirm the presence of the naphthyl carbamate entity at the chain-end. MALDI-ToF MS measurements were also performed for all the chain-end modified PEOs. The characterization data of the different naphthyl carbamate chain-end modified PEOs are presented in Table S1 Annex 3

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together with the experimental conditions for the preparation of the samples. A typical SEC curve is presented in the supporting information section (Figure S1). Low PDI values, close to the precursor PEOs, were obtained by SEC (Figure S1 and Table S1). In most cases, the Mn values determined by SEC and based on calibration with linear hydro--hydroxy PEOs, are in good agreement with the expected values. The slight increase in the molar mass with respect to the precursor PEO is attributed to the presence of the naphthyl carbamate entity at the chain-end. The results of the SEC with online UV detection (Figure S1) attested the presence of the naphthyl carbamate entity at the chain-end: A strong UV adsorption is observed at the elution volume corresponding to the PEO chain. Classical UV spectroscopy was also used to quantify the functionalization yield. The measurements were conducted in ethanol (Figure S2). This method allows the determination of the Mn values taking into account the chain-modified PEO concentration, the extinction coefficient (7060 mol -1 cm -1 ) and the optical density. These values are presented in Table S1 and are consistent with the Mn values measured by SEC based on calibration with linear PEOs. The same remark is valid for the commercial bifunctional PEO sample with a molar mass (Mn) of building blocks in macromolecular engineering Gladys Pozza corresponds exactly to the value of the naphthyl carbamate entity. However, besides these major peaks, a "minor" distribution is observed (see peaks at 1258 and 1303 g mol -1 ). This distribution fits well with a monofunctional "protonated" naphthyl carbamate for the same number n, and not with a difunctional "protonated" or "sodiated" naphthyl carbamate PEO.

Table S1. Molecular characteristics of the -naphthyl carbamate PEOs

Sample

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