Abstract
Mono- and di-(trimethylammonium)-terminated polystyrenes with similar molar masses were synthesized. Bromopolystyrenes were first prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using (N-Boc-propylamino)-2-bromoisobutyrate as initiator and Cu(I)Br/2,2-bipyridine as catalytic system in bulk at 110 °C. ,-Telechelic polymer with double molecular weight with respect to the starting polystyrene was then obtained under atom transfer radical coupling process using 2,2-bipyridine and copper(0) mediated reductive conditions in anisole. Final (trimethylammonium)-terminated polystyrenes were eventually obtained after removal of the tert-butyloxycarbonyl group and permethylation reactions. Intermediate and final polymers were characterized by 1H NMR. The aligning properties of the obtained polymers for liquid crystals have been investigated. Pretilt and zenithal anchorings on ITO/glass substrates were measured. Finally, the possibility for the telechelic polystyrene to form a network in an inverted microemulsion was also considered.