Stars and Dendrimer-like architectures by the divergent method using controlled radical polymerization

Using novel multihalide compounds based on 4-tert-butylcalix[4,6,8]arenes as initiators, molecularly well-defined polystyrenes (PS) and poly[alkyl-(meth)acrylates] could be obtained by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This core-first approach and therefore the very same initiators also served to derive star block copolymers. Dendrimer-like architectures based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and PS were prepared upon combination of anionic polymerization for the inner PEO part and ATRP for the outer PS shell.