Two star triblock terpolymers (PS-<i>b</i>-P2VP-<i>b</i>-PEO)<sub>3</sub> and one dendritic-like
terpolymer [PS-<i>b</i>-P2VP-<i>b</i>-(PEO)<sub>2</sub>]<sub>3</sub> of PS (polystyrene), P2VP (poly(2-vinylpyridine)),
and PEO (poly(ethylene
oxide)), never reported before, were synthesized by combining atom
transfer radical and anionic polymerizations. The synthesis involves
the transformation of the −Br groups of the previously reported
Br-terminated 3-arm star diblock copolymers to one or two −OH
groups, followed by anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide to afford
the star or dendritic structure, respectively. The well-defined structure
of the terpolymers was confirmed by static light scattering, size
exclusion chromatography, and NMR spectroscopy. The self-assembly
in solution and the morphology in bulk of the terpolymers, studied
by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy,
respectively, reveal new insights in the phase separation of these
materials with complex macromolecular architecture
