Synthesis of an amphiphilic conjugated polymer through block copolymerization of phenylacetylene and (p-trityloxycarbonylphenyl)acetylene and the subsequent hydrolysis

Summary The polymerization of (p-trityloxycarbonylphenyl)acetylene (p-TrOCOPA) with (nbd)RhCl]₂/Ph₂C=C(Ph)Li/Ph₃P ternary catalyst proceeded in a living fashion to provide polymer with low polydispersity index (M _w/M _n∼1.1) in good yield. Block copolymerizations of p-TrOCOPA with phenylacetylene (PA) selectively formed the corresponding block copolymers regardless of the order of monomer addition. The hydrolysis of the homo- and block copolymers of p-TrOCOPA catalyzed by hydrochloric acid gave carboxyl-containing hydrophilic homopolymer and amphiphilic block copolymers, respectively. The amphiphilic block copolymer formed micelles in solution and monomolecular membrane at the air-water interface. Received: 2 April 2001/Accepted: 17 April 2001