Alternating block copolymers of aromatic poly(ether sulphone) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) by hydrosilylation

Abstract Alternating block copolymers of aromatic poly(ether sulphone) (PSU) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were prepared via Pt-catalysed hydrosilylation of α,Ω-di(vinylbenzyl)PSU or α,Ω-di(allylether)PSU with α,Ω-di(silane)PDMS. The vinyl functionalized PSUs were prepared by Williamson phase transfer catalysed (PTC) etherification of α,Ω-di(hydroxyphenyl)PSU with p -chloromethylstyrene or allyl bromide (chloride), respectively. The block copolymers prepared were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.), gel permeation chromatography (g.p.c.), differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) and membrane osmometry. These block copolymers showed good degrees of chain extension and phase separation into rubbery PDMS and glassy PSU domains.