Abstract
Novel energetic oxetane derivatives, 3-nitratomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (NMMO) and 3azidomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (AMMO), were used as monomers in a triflic anhydride [(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 O] initiating polymerization system. The "living cationic" characteristics of the polymerization were investigated and confirmed via a 19 F NMR technique. This living polymerization system was, thus, utilized in the synthesis of well-defined block copolymers. Novel polymers of the A-B-A type with various molecular weights (M w = 14320-40660) and low polydispersity indexes (PDI = 1.11-1.29) were obtained. Two glass transition temperatures (T g ) near the respective T g s of the homopolymers were found in the DSC thermograms of the block copolymers. The THF/AMMO copolymers were shown to possess higher thermal stability compared to THF/NMMO copolymers from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.