Polymer production method

Abstract

A polymer production method whereby: a flow reactor comprising a flow path wherein a plurality of liquids can be mixed is used; and a monomer is anionically polymerized in the presence of an initiator. The flow reactor comprises a mixer for mixing two liquids, said mixer comprising either a joint member having a double pipe therein or a static mixer member.

1 . A polymer containing structural units of formula (1) below 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R 1  is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R 2  to R 6  are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms that may be substituted with a halogen atom, —OSiR 7   3  or —SiR 7   3 ; and each R 7  is independently an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an alkylsilyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, wherein the polymer has an end that is an n-butyl group from an initiator residue, a weight-average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 50,000, and a dispersity is 1.5 or less. 
       
     
     
         2 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein R 4  is an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or —SiR 7   3 . 
     
     
         3 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein R 4  is a methoxy group or —Si(CH 3 ) 3 . 
     
     
         4 . A block copolymer comprising a first polymer block containing structural units of formula (2) below and a second polymer block containing structural units of formula (3) below 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R 11  and R 21  are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R 12  to R 16  are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may be substituted with a halogen atom; R 22  to R 26  are each independently a hydrogen atom, —OSiR 27   3  or —SiR 27   3 ; each R 27  is independently an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an alkylsilyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and m and n are each independently an integer from 1 to 480, wherein the structural units of formula (2) and the structural units of formula (3) are mutually differing structural units and the polymer has an end that is an n-butyl group from an initiator residue, a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 1,000 to 50,000, and a dispersity of 1.5 or less. 
       
     
     
         5 . The block copolymer of  claim 4 , wherein R 14  is an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms and R 24  is —SiR 27   3 . 
     
     
         6 . The block copolymer of  claim 5 , wherein R 14  is a methoxy group and R 24  is —Si(CH 3 ) 3 .