Synthesis of fullerene-containing poly(ethylene oxide)s

Fullerene-containing poly(ethylene oxide)s were synthesized by the reaction of mono-and bifunctional living poly(ethylene oxide)s with C-60 fullerene and by the polymerization of ethylene oxide under the action of potassium fullerides (the products of the reaction between C-60 and cumylpotassium or potassium tert-butoxide). The formation of polymers containing covalently bound C-60 Was established by HPLC and UV spectroscopy. It was shown that when potassium fullerides are used, the star-shaped polymers are produced, whereas the use of monofunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s leads to linear products. The reaction of bifunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s with C-60 yields regular network polymers. Using mass spectrometric analysis, it was shown that the network structures exhibit enhanced thermal stability. Chromatographic measurements showed that the retention volumes for the fullerene-containing fractions of the polymers increase with an actual increase in their molecular masses.