Enabling reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization for brush copolymers with a poly(2-oxazoline) backbone

The combination of different monomer classes has been sought after to access a wider range of brush copolymers owing to their unique properties derived from their dense macromolecular structures. Herein, we report the synthesis of a 2-oxazoline monomer (RAFTOx) containing a chain transfer agent at the 2-position and its subsequent utilization in reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. With the aim of tuning the brush density in these polymers, homopolymers, block copolymers, and gradient copolymers of various ratios with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline and RAFTOx have been prepared. Selected brush macroCTAs were then used for the RAFT polymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and 2-ethyhexyl acrylate to prepare brush copolymers of different architectures