Endfunctional Polymers by Functionalization of Living Cationic Chain Ends with 1,1-Diphenylethylene

Abstract A new functionalization method has been developed for the synthesis of 2,2-diphenylvinyl(DPV)-telechelic polyisobutylene (PIB). First, living carbocationic polymerization (LCCP) of isobutylene (IB) is quantitatively end-quenched with a nonpolymerizable olefin, 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE). This process yields a mixture of diphenyl substituted vinyl and tertiary chlorine endgroups. Treatment of the resulting polymer with potassium-tert-butoxide (tBuOK) leads to the quantitative formation of DPV-telechelic PIB which is a potential macroinitiator precursor for living anionic polymerizations.