One-Pot Synthesis of Poly(linoleic acid)-g-Poly(styrene)-g-Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) Graft Copolymers

One-pot synthesis of graft copolymers by ring-opening polymerization and free radical polymerization using polymeric linoleic acid peroxide (PLina) is reported. Graft copolymers having structures of poly(linoleic acid)-g-polystyrene-g-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) were synthesized from PLina, possessing peroxide groups on the main chain by the combination of free radical polymerization of styrene and ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone in one-step. Principal parameters, such as monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and polymerization time, which effect the one-pot polymerization reactions were evaluated. The obtained graft copolymers were characterized by H-1-NMR and DOSY-NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry techniques.