Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate)‐graft‐poly[(meth)acrylates] by atom transfer radical polymerization

The graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate onto poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate) with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was successfully carried out with copper(I) thiocyanate/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and copper(I) chloride/2,2′‐bipyridine as catalysts in the solvent N,N‐dimethylformamide. For methyl methacrylate, a kinetic plot of ln([M]₀/[M]) (where [M]₀ is the initial monomer concentration and [M] is the monomer concentration) versus time for the graft polymerization was almost linear, and the molecular weight of the graft copolymer increased with increasing conversion, this being typical for ATRP. The formation of the graft polymer was confirmed with gel permeation chromatography, ¹H‐NMR, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The glass‐transition temperature of the copolymer increased with the concentration of methyl methacrylate. The graft copolymer was hydrolyzed, and its swelling capacity was measured. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 183–189, 2005     

Surface-initiated nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate on polymeric microspheres

2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) was grafted from the surface of alkoxyamine-functionalized crosslinked poly(styrene-co-chloromethylstyrene) microspheres by nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). Latex particles (∼60 nm diameter) bearing chloromethyl groups were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. N-tert-butyl-N-(1-diethyl phosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl)nitroxide (SG1) was then immobilized on the particle surface. Microspheres grafted with the homopolymer pDMAEA, as well as block copolymers poly(styrene-b-DMAEA) and poly(butyl acrylate-b-DMAEA) were prepared by surface-initiated NMRP in N,N-dimethylformamide at 112 °C, with the addition of free SG1 to ensure that control is maintained. Particle size increases with number average molecular weight (M_n) of untethered polymers. The polymerizations exhibit linear first order kinetic plots and slight curvature of evolution of M_n with conversion. The functional microspheres were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis, as well as their dispersibility in water; the results support the formation of surface-grafted pDMAEA on the microspheres.     

Synthesis of poly(octadecyl acrylate‐b‐styrene‐b‐octadecyl acrylate) triblock copolymer by atom transfer radical polymerization

The synthesis of triblock copolymer poly(octadecyl acrylate‐b‐styrene‐b‐octadecyl acrylate), using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), is reported. The copolymers were prepared in two steps. First, polystyrene was synthesized by ATRP using α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene/CuBr/bpy as the initiating system; Second, polystyrene was further used as macroinitiator for the ATRP of octadecyl acrylate to prepare ABA triblock copolymers in the presence of FeCl₂·4H₂O/PPh₃ in toluene. Polymers with controlled molecular weight (M_n = 17,000–23,400) and low polydispersity index value (1.33–1.44) were obtained. The relationship between molecular weight versus conversion showed a straight line. The effect of reaction temperature on polymerization was also investigated, showing a faster polymerization rate under higher temperature. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, DSC, and GPC and the crystallization behavior of the copolymers was also studied. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1539–1545, 2004     

Preparation and characterization of polyaniline N‐grafted with poly(ethyl acrylate) synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization

Polyaniline (PANI) N‐grafted with poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) was synthesized by the grafting of bromo‐terminated poly (ethyl acrylate) (PEA‐Br) onto the leucoemeraldine form of PANI. PEA‐Br was synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization of ethyl acrylate in the presence of methyl‐2‐bromopropionate and copper(I) chloride/bipyridine as the initiator and catalyst systems, respectively. The leucoemeraldine form of PANI was deprotonated by butyl lithium and then reacted with PEA‐Br to prepare PEA‐g‐PANI graft copolymers containing different amounts of PEA via an N‐grafting reaction. The graft copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Solubility testing showed that the solubility of PANI in chloroform was increased by the grafting of PEA onto PANI. The morphology of the PEA‐g‐PANI graft copolymer films was observed by scanning electron microscopy to be homogeneous. The electrical conductivity of the graft copolymers was measured by the four‐probe method. The results show that the conductivity of the PANI decreased significantly with increasing grafting density of PEA onto the PANI backbone up to 7 wt % and then remained almost constant with further increases in the grafting percentage of PEA. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Preparation of well-defined environmentally responsive polymer brushes on monolithic surface by two-step atom transfer radical polymerization method for HPLC

Well-defined poly (2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brushes were successfully prepared on the monolithic surface via two-step atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The polymer brushes synthesized by the second-step ATRP were based on the active bromic groups resulting from poly (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (pEDMA) monolith which was prepared at room temperature by the first-step ATRP. Element analysis was used to monitor the grafting process at different reaction times. Each step of preparation was characterized by scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrum and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Employment of PDMAEMA grafted monolith as the stationary phase for chromatographic analysis of steroids demonstrated that the PDMAEMA brushes possessed both pH- and salt-responsive properties. Noticeably, it has been found that the chain length of PDMAEMA brushes could influence the retention behavior of steroids due to the controllability of ATRP, which proposed an interesting alternative to modulate retention in HPLC. This is the first application of PDMAEMA brushes grafted monolith by two-step ATRP method for constructing responsive surface in HPLC and it might exploit a new path for widening the monolith application in various fields.     

Rapid ambient temperature atom transfer radical polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate

BACKGROUND: Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is considered to be one of the better and easier synthetic tools for the preparation of polymers with controlled molecular weights and polydispersities. Ambient temperature ATRP of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) was studied in a detailed manner with ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBrB) and tert‐butyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (tBuBrB) as the initiators for three different degrees of polymerization. RESULTS: Details pertaining to the kinetics of polymerization using different initiators are reported. It is observed that dimethylsulfoxide accelerates the polymerization at room temperature. The use of Cu(II) as the deactivator produces very narrow dispersity polymers. A diblock copolymer, poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate), was synthesized from the poly(tBA) macroinitiator demonstrating the controlled living nature of the polymerizations. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of polymerization is more rapid with a secondary initiator (ethyl 2‐bromopropionate) compared to the tertiary initiators EBrB and tBuBrB. From the detailed kinetic results it is observed that tris(2‐dimethylaminoethyl)amine was a better ligand compared to tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine in terms of achieving controlled polymerization. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of amphiphilic poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) diblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 1‐(butoxy)ethyl methacrylate (BEMA) was carried out using CuBr/2,2′‐bipyridyl complex as catalyst and 2‐bromo‐2‐methyl‐propionic acid ester as initiator. The number average molecular weight of the obtained polymers increased with monomer conversion, and molecular weight distributions were unimodal throughout the reaction and shifted toward higher molecular weights. Using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with a bromine atom at the chain end, which was prepared by ATRP, as the macro‐initiator, a diblock copolymer PMMA‐block‐poly [1‐(butoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PMMA‐b‐PBEMA) has been synthesized by means of ATRP of BEMA. The amphiphilic diblock copolymer PMMA‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) can be further obtained very easily by hydrolysis of PMMA‐b‐PBEMA under mild acidic conditions. The molecular weight and the structure of the above‐mentioned polymers were characterized with gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structure and properties of tailor‐made poly(ethyl acrylate)/clay nanocomposites prepared by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization

An in‐depth study was carried out on the structure and properties of a series of poly(ethyl acrylate)/clay nanocomposites prepared by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (PNCIs) with well‐defined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies revealed an exfoliated clay morphology, whereas conventional solution blending generated an intercalated structure. The storage moduli of the PNCIs showed a moderate increase over that of the neat polymer [poly(ethyl acrylate)]. The sample containing 4 wt % clay (PNCI4, where the number following PNCI indicates the weight percentage of clay) exhibited the highest improvement (31.9% at 25°C). In PNCIs, the β‐transition temperature showed a remarkable decrease (by 175% in PNCI4) along with a shift toward higher temperatures. This indicated the probability of the anchoring of the ? OH group of the clay layers to the >C?O group of the pendant acrylate moiety, which was also confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. Rheological measurements indicated a significant increase in the shear viscosity [by 9% in PNCI2, 15% in PNCI4, and 6% in the poly(ethyl acrylate)/clay nanocomposite with 2 wt % clay prepared by solution blending]. The PNCIs registered enhanced thermal stability, as indicated by the shift in the peak maximum temperature (388 and 392°C for the neat polymer and PNCI4, respectively) and a decrease in the rate of degradation (by 3.5% in PNCI2, 10.2% in PNCI4, and 49.3% in PNCI6). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯及聚丙烯酸异辛酯-氨酯的制备及表征

采用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)合成了分子量与设计分子量(2000)大小相符的聚丙烯酸异辛酯,再以N-甲基单乙醇胺作为亲核试剂,对活性端基溴进行亲核取代,得到了分子量可控、分子量分布较窄的线型端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯。以此为原料与甲苯二异氰酸酯(TDI)反应,制备得到了聚丙烯酸异辛酯-氨酯。利用核磁共振谱(1HNMR)、差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、热重示差扫描量热仪(TGA)对合成的端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯及聚丙烯酸酯异辛酯-氨酯的结构、热稳定性等进行了表征。结果表明,利用端羟基聚丙烯酸异辛酯成功地制备了聚丙烯酸异辛酯-氨酯,由凝胶渗透色谱仪(GPC)测得其分子量为10200,玻璃化转变温度为-54℃,是一种新型的丙烯酸酯与聚氨酯的共聚物。     

Block, blocky gradient and random copolymers of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and acrylic acid by atom transfer radical polymerization

The controlled synthesis of low-T_g poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (P2EHA) and derived random, block and blocky gradient copolymers via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is described. After optimizing the reaction conditions for the homopolymerization of 2EHA via ATRP, the synthesis of a variety of copolymers with poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBuA) was investigated. First, AB-block copolymers were targeted, starting from P2EHA and PtBuA as macroinitiators. Second, random copolymers of tBuA and 2EHA with different monomer ratios were synthesized. Finally, the synthesis of “blocky” gradient copolymers via a one-pot procedure was investigated, starting with the homopolymerization of tBuA, followed by the addition of 2EHA. The hydrolysis of the PtBuA-segments to poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), which was carried out with methanesulfonic acid, resulted in block, blocky gradient and random copolymers consisting of PAA and P2EHA. Solubility testing of the copolymers in slightly basic water (pH ∼ 9) demonstrated that the gradient structure significantly enhances solubility compared to the block copolymer structures with equal composition. The polymers have been characterized by MALDI-TOF MS, GPC and ¹H NMR.     

The potential of Cu(I)Cl/2,2′‐bipyridine catalysis in a triblock copolymer preparation by atom transfer radical polymerization

The ability of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the sequential synthesis of triblock copolymers was examined using Cu(I)Cl/2,2′‐bipyridine catalysis at 110°C in toluene, starting from PMMA macroinitiators terminated with the C‐Br group. The PMMAs were prepared by living anionic or group transfer polymerization (GTP), followed by bromination of the respective active site with Br₂ or N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS). The yield of the terminal bromination in the products of both living polymerizations was 60–64% at best, compared with the yield of the bromination of 1‐methoxy‐(1‐trimethylsilyloxy)prop‐1‐ene (a model of the GTP active site) with NBS, as found by ¹H‐NMR. The PMMA macroinitiators prepared were utilized to start the sequential ATRP, finally affording PMMA‐b‐PBuA‐b‐PSt (M_n 69,100), PMMA‐b‐PSt‐b‐PBuA (M_n 21,300) and PMMA‐b‐PSt‐b‐PMMA (M_n 35,200), which have not yet been synthesized by ATRP. After the second block has been formed, the Br‐unterminated part of PMMA macroinitiator was removed by extraction or repeated precipitation. In the third (last) sequence polymerization, induction periods were observed. The first two triblock copolymers were free of precursors and have M_w/M_n values 1.5–1.6 (SEC). In the course of the last step of PMMA‐b‐PSt‐b‐PMMA synthesis, the content of the PMMA‐b‐PSt precursor slowly decreased with increasing MMA conversion. Still, at ≈90% MMA conversion, about 10–15% of the precursor remained in the product. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 3514–3522, 2001     

Relation between microstructure and glass transition temperature of poly[(methyl methacrylate)‐co‐(ethyl acrylate)]

The glass transition temperature of a series of samples of the poly[(methyl methacrylate)‐co‐(ethyl acrylate)] copolymer, synthesized at low conversion, were calculated theoretically using the equations of Barton and Johnston. The values obtained are more precise when the probabilities of the compositional diads are derived from the ¹³C NMR data instead of the classical method utilizing reactivity ratios. This can be observed more clearly when the copolymer samples are synthesized at high conversion. Introduction of configuration (tacticity) at the diad level confirms the above observations and slightly improves the calculated values of T_g compared to the initial formulae which were only taking into account the compositional sequences of the copolymer. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Atom transfer radical polymerization grafting of highly functionalized polystyrene and poly(4‐methylstyrene) macroinitiators with tert‐butyl acrylate

Two monodisperse graft copolymers, poly(4‐methylstyrene)‐graft‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) [number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 37,500, weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n) = 1.12] and polystyrene‐graft‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (M_n = 72,800, M_w/M_n = 1.12), were prepared by the atom transfer radical polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate catalyzed with Cu(I) halides. As macroinitiators, poly{(4‐methylstyrene)‐co‐[(4‐bromomethyl)styrene]} and poly{styrene‐co‐[4‐(1‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethyl)styrene]}, carrying 40% of the bromoalkyl functionalities along the chain, were used. The dependencies of molecular parameters on monomer conversion fulfilled the criteria for controlled polymerizations. In contrast, the dependencies of monomer conversion versus time were nonideal; possible causes were examined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2930–2936, 2002     

Kinetic study of the atom transfer radical polymerization of n‐docosyl acrylate

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of n‐docosyl acrylate (DA) was studied at 80°C in N,N‐dimethylformamide using the carbon tetrabromide/FeCl₃/2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) initiator system in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the source of reducing agent. The rate of polymerization exhibits first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer. The linear relationship between the molecular weight of the resulting poly(n‐docosyl acrylate) with conversion and the narrow polydispersity of the polymers indicates the living characteristics of the polymerization reaction. The significant effect of AIBN on the ATRP of DA was studied keeping [FeCl₃]/[bpy] constant. A probable reaction mechanism for the polymerization system is postulated to explain the observed results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2147–2154, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate)‐b‐polystyrene diblock copolymers by atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization

Poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA)‐b‐polystyrene (PSt) diblock copolymers were synthesized by emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). PBMA macroinitiators that contained alkyl bromide end groups were obtained by the emulsion ATRP of n‐butyl methacrylate with BrCH₃CHCOOC₂H₅ as the initiator; these were used to initiate the ATRP of styrene (St). The latter procedure was carried out at 85°C with CuCl/4,4′‐di(5‐nonyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine as the catalyst and polyoxyethylene(23) lauryl ether as the surfactant. With this technique, PBMA‐b‐PSt diblock copolymers were synthesized. The polymerization was nearly controlled; the ATRP of St from the macroinitiators showed linear increases in number‐average molecular weight with conversion. The block copolymers were characterized with IR spectroscopy, ¹H‐NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. The effects of the molecular weight of the macroinitiators, macroinitiator concentration, catalyst concentration, surfactant concentration, and temperature on the polymerization were also investigated. Thermodynamic data and activation parameters for the ATRP are also reported. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2123–2129, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of polyrotaxanes comprising α‐cyclodextrins and poly(ε‐caprolactone) end‐capped with poly(butyl methacrylate)s

Biodegradable polyrotaxane‐based triblock copolymers were synthesized via the bulk atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) initiated with polypseudo‐rotaxanes (PPRs) built from a distal 2‐bromoisobutyryl end‐capped poly(ε‐caprolactone) (Br‐PCL‐Br) with α‐cyclodextrins (α‐CDs) in the presence of Cu(I)Br/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine at 45 ºC. The structure was characterized in detail by means of ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, DSC and TGA. When the feed molar ratio of BMA to Br‐PCL‐Br was changed from 128 to 300, the degree of polymerization of PBMA blocks attached to two ends of the PPRs was in the range 382 ? 803. Although about a tenth of the added α‐CDs were still threaded onto the PCL chain after the ATRP process, the movable α‐CDs made a marked contribution to the mechanical strength enhancement, blood anticoagulation activity and protein adsorption repellency of the resulting copolymers. Meanwhile, they could also protect the copolymers from the attack of H₂O and Lipase AK Amano molecules, exhibiting a lower mass loss as evidenced in hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation experiments. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phase behavior for the poly[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate] and 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate in supercritical solvents

Pressure-composition (p, x) isotherms were obtained for the carbon dioxide + 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate [2-(2-EE)EA] system at five temperatures (313.2 K, 333.2 K, 353.2 K, 373.2 K, and 393.2 K) and pressure up to 22.86 MPa. The carbon dioxide + 2-(2-EE)EA system exhibits type-I phase behavior with a continuous mixture critical curve. The experimental results for carbon dioxide + 2-(2-EE)EA mixtures are correlated using the Peng–Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS) using mixing rule including two adjustable parameters. The critical property of 2-(2-EE)EA is estimated with the Joback–Lyderson method.Experimental data up to 485 K and 206.6 MPa are reported for binary and ternary mixtures of poly(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate) [P(2-(2-EE)EA)] + carbon dioxide + 2-(2-EE)EA, P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide + dimethyl ether (DME), P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide + propylene and P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide + 1-butene systems. High-pressure cloud-point data are also reported for P(2-(2-EE)EA) in supercritical carbon dioxide, propane, propylene, butane, 1-butene, and DME at temperature to 474 K and a pressure range of (8.45–206.6) MPa. Cloud-point behavior for the P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide + 2-(2-EE)EA system were measured in changes of the pressure–temperature (p, T) slope and with 2-(2-EE)EA mass fraction of 0.0 wt%, 5.9 wt%, 14.9 wt%, 30.3 wt% and 60.2 wt%. With 0.650 2-(2-EE)EA to the P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide solution, the cloud point curves take on the appearance of a typical lower critical solution temperature boundary. The P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide + (0.0–46.6) wt% DME systems change the (p, T) curve from upper critical solution temperature region to lower critical solution temperature region as the DME mass fraction increases. Also, the impact by propylene and 1-butene mass fraction for the P(2-(2-EE)EA) + carbon dioxide + propylene and 1-butene system is measured at temperatures to 454 K and a pressure range of (75.7 to 119.6) MPa.     

Copolymerization of styrene with an α‐olefin via atom transfer radical polymerization

This investigation reports the preparation of styrene–α‐olefinic random copolymers, using 1‐octene as an α‐olefin, via atom transfer radical polymerization. Atom transfer radical copolymerization of styrene with 1‐octene was successfully carried out using phenylethyl bromide as initiator and CuBr as catalyst in combination with N, N, N′, N″, N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as ligand. The copolymers had controlled molecular weight, narrow dispersity and well‐defined end groups with significant 1‐octene incorporation in the polymer. Incorporation of 1‐octene in the copolymers was confirmed using ¹H NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy. An increase in 1‐octene content in the monomer feed led to an increase in the level of incorporation of the α‐olefin in the copolymer. An increase in the concentration of 1‐octene led to a decrease in the rate of polymerization and an increase in dispersity. The glass transition temperature of the copolymer gradually decreased as the incorporation of 1‐octene increased. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles by reverse atom transfer radical polymerization in a microemulsion

Well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with an α‐isobutyronitrile group and an ω‐bromine atom as the end groups was synthesized by the microemulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 70°C with a 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile/CuBr₂/2,2′‐bipyridine system. The conversion of the polymerization reached 81.9%. The viscosity‐average molecular weight of PMMA was high (380,000), and the polydispersity index was 1.58. The polymerization of MMA exhibited some controlled radical polymerization characteristics. The mechanism of controlled polymerization was studied. The presence of hydrogen and bromine atoms as end groups of the obtained PMMA was determined by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The shape and size of the final polymer particles were analyzed by scanning probe microscopy, and the diameters of the obtained particles were usually in the range of 60–100 nm. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3670–3676, 2006     

Synthesis of poly(cyclohexene oxide)‐block‐polystyrene by combination of radical‐promoted cationic polymerization,atom transfer radical polymerization and click chemistry

The combination of radical‐promoted cationic polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click chemistry was employed for the efficient preparation of poly(cyclohexene oxide)‐block‐polystyrene (PCHO‐b‐PSt). Alkyne end‐functionalized poly(cyclohexene oxide) (PCHO‐alkyne) was prepared by radical‐promoted cationic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide monomer in the presence of 1,2‐diphenyl‐2‐(2‐propynyloxy)‐1‐ethanone (B‐alkyne) and an onium salt, namely 1‐ethoxy‐2‐methylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate, as the initiating system. The B‐alkyne compound was synthesized using benzoin photoinitiator and propargyl bromide. Well‐defined bromine‐terminated polystyrene (PSt‐Br) was prepared by ATRP using 2‐oxo‐1,2‐diphenylethyl‐2‐bromopropanoate as initiator. Subsequently, the bromine chain end of PSt‐Br was converted to an azide group to obtain PSt‐N₃ by a simple nucleophilic substitution reaction. Then the coupling reaction between the azide end group in PSt‐N₃ and PCHO‐alkyne was performed with Cu(I) catalysis in order to obtain the PCHO‐b‐PSt block copolymer. The structures of all polymers were determined. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry