Kinetic study of poly(ethylene oxide-b-2-methyl-2-oxazoline) diblocs synthesis from poly(ethylene oxide) macroinitiators

The synthesis of poly(ethylene oxide-b-2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PEO-POXZ) block copolymers was carried out by the polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MeOXZ) from monomethoxy poly(ethylene oxide) macroinitiator. The initiating functions were 4-chloromethylbenzoate or tosylate groups. The functionalization of α-methoxy-ω-hydroxy PEO was optimized by adjustment of the reaction temperature. The duplication side reaction was investigated in the case of tosylate functionalization. The determination of the propagation rate constants of the MeOXZ polymerization showed that the presence of the PEO chains decreased the propagation rate constant in the case of active species under the form of oxazolinium ions, while it increased the propagation rate constant in the case of covalent active species, most probably by partial ionization.