A method of preparing high molecular weight poly(meth)acrylate polymers having narrow polydispersity indices (PDIs) by coupling poly(meth)acrylate building block units which themselves have narrow PDIs. The building block units have halogenated terminations, which when reacted with selected coupling agents, from the high molecular weight poly(meth)acrylate polymers.

A method of preparing high molecular weight poly(meth)acrylate polymers having narrow polydispersity indices (PDIs) by coupling poly(meth)acrylate building block units which themselves have narrow PDIs. The building block units have halogenated terminations, which when reacted with selected coupling agents, from the high molecular weight poly(meth)acrylate polymers.

This polymer having a reactive silicon-containing group is represented by structural formula (1), and has good reactivity while having a monoalkoxysilyl group. ##STR00001##
(In the formula, X represents a monovalent to trivalent organic group including a main chain backbone including a predetermined polymer such as a polyurethane, a poly(meth)acrylate, or a polysiloxane, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group or the like having 1-10 carbon atoms, Y represents O, S, or the like, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each represent a single bond, or a divalent linking group such as a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1-20 carbon atoms, and n represents a number of 1-3.)

This polymer having a reactive silicon-containing group is represented by structural formula (1), and has good reactivity while having a monoalkoxysilyl group. ##STR00001##
(In the formula, X represents a monovalent to trivalent organic group including a main chain backbone including a predetermined polymer such as a polyurethane, a poly(meth)acrylate, or a polysiloxane, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group or the like having 1-10 carbon atoms, Y represents O, S, or the like, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each represent a single bond, or a divalent linking group such as a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1-20 carbon atoms, and n represents a number of 1-3.)

A polymeric molecule having the formula: X—[C(A).sub.2C(B)(B′)].sub.n-Q[CY═C(Z)(Z′)] or [C(A).sub.2=C(B)].sub.n-Q[C(Y)(Y′)—C(Z)(Z′)]—X′, wherein A is either H or F; B and B′ are either H, F, or Cl, and are not necessarily the same; X and X′ are Br, Cl or I (and are not necessarily the same); Y and Y′ are F, Br, Cl or I (and are not necessarily the same); and wherein Z and Z′ are F, Br, Cl or I (and are not necessarily the same); Q is optional and is either oxygen (O) or sulfur (S); and n is at least 1.

A polymeric molecule having the formula: X—[C(A).sub.2C(B)(B′)].sub.n-Q[CY═C(Z)(Z′)] or [C(A).sub.2=C(B)].sub.n-Q[C(Y)(Y′)—C(Z)(Z′)]—X′, wherein A is either H or F; B and B′ are either H, F, or Cl, and are not necessarily the same; X and X′ are Br, Cl or I (and are not necessarily the same); Y and Y′ are F, Br, Cl or I (and are not necessarily the same); and wherein Z and Z′ are F, Br, Cl or I (and are not necessarily the same); Q is optional and is either oxygen (O) or sulfur (S); and n is at least 1.

[Problem] To provide a method for efficiently producing a poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(halomethylstyrene), a novel poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(halomethylstyrene) produced using the method, and a derivative thereof.

[Solution] The target novel copolymer can be provided by introducing a functional group, which enables reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, to the ω terminal of poly(ethylene glycol) and copolymerizing the resulting poly(ethylene glycol) with a halomethylstyrene.

[Problem] To provide a method for efficiently producing a poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(halomethylstyrene), a novel poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(halomethylstyrene) produced using the method, and a derivative thereof.

[Solution] The target novel copolymer can be provided by introducing a functional group, which enables reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, to the ω terminal of poly(ethylene glycol) and copolymerizing the resulting poly(ethylene glycol) with a halomethylstyrene.

Disclosed are methods for upcycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that involve the dissolving of PVC in an organic solvent; and contacting the PVC with a base, thereby providing a partially dehydrochlorinated PVC. Polymers made by the disclosed, and articles therefore, are also disclosed.

Disclosed are methods for upcycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that involve the dissolving of PVC in an organic solvent; and contacting the PVC with a base, thereby providing a partially dehydrochlorinated PVC. Polymers made by the disclosed, and articles therefore, are also disclosed.