@article { ISI:000303083900011,
	title = {Reactive polymers bearing styrene pendants through selective anionic polymerization of 4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate},
	journal = {Macromolecules},
	volume = {45},
	number = {8},
	year = {2012},
	month = {APR},
	pages = {3387-3393},
	publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC},
	address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA},
	abstract = {<p>Selective anionic polymerization of 4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate at methacrylate site has been achieved using resonance stabilized anionic initiators such as 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium (DPHLi) and tritylpotassium (TritylK) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at -78 degrees C. Polymerization proceeded selectively through methacrylate functionality of the monomer in a controlled manner and produced polymers and copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution at low temperatures (\&lt;=-40 degrees C). H-1 NMR of the polymer showed the presence of styrene pendants in every monomeric repeating unit. The polymerization results confirm that the resonance stabilized carbanions with an optimum pK(a) (30 \&lt;= pK(a) \&lt;= 32) of their conjugate acids such as DPHLi and TritylK do not react with styrene functionality at 78 degrees C. The selective initiation without cross-linking is attributed to the differences in the electronegativity between polar methacrylate and styrene functionalities and an attenuation of initiator reactivity at low temperature. Poly(4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate) and its copolymers with the vinyl pendant in close proximity with ester linkage are very reactive and unstable, readily undergoing cross-linking in solution or in solid state with or without a radical initiator.</p>},
	issn = {0024-9297},
	doi = {10.1021/ma202750b},
	author = {Mohan, Y. Murali and Raghunadh, V. and Sivaram, S. and Baskaran, D.}
}
