Abstract: A method of making a polymer having the structure (I): wherein L is a linking group, R is a hydrocarbon group or a substituted-hydrocarbon group, and x is 2 or more, preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 50; and wherein each {Q} is an identical polymer block or contains a plurality of polymer blocks. The method comprises reacting a di-halo initiator with a selected monomer one or more times and then reacting the resulting moiety with a dithiol compound of the structure HS—R—SH.

Abstract: A polymer having the structure (I): L is a linking group, R is a hydrocarbon group or a substituted-hydrocarbon group, and x is 2 or more, preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 50. Each {Q} is (a) an identical polymer block composed of 3 or more monomer units, or (b) contains a plurality of polymer blocks, each polymer block being composed of 3 or more monomer units, such that the moiety {Q}-L-{Q} has the structure {Pn . . . P2P1}-L-{P1P2 . . . Pn} where each Pn is an individual polymer block, the number of polymer blocks n in each {Q} being the same; wherein for each value of n the polymer blocks are identical; and wherein n is an integer of 2 or more, preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 50.

Abstract: A polymer having the structure (I): L is a linking group, R is a hydrocarbon group or a substituted-hydrocarbon group, and x is 2 or more, preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 50. Each {Q} is (a) an identical polymer block composed of 3 or more monomer units, or (b) contains a plurality of polymer blocks, each polymer block being composed of 3 or more monomer units, such that the moiety {Q}-L-{Q} has the structure {Pn . . . P2P1}-L-{P1P2 . . . Pn} where each Pn is an individual polymer block, the number of polymer blocks n in each {Q} being the same; wherein for each value of n the polymer blocks are identical; and wherein n is an integer of 2 or more, preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 50.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer having the structure (I): wherein L is a linking group, R is a hydrocarbon group or a substituted-hydrocarbon group, and x is 2 or more, preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 50; and wherein each {Q} is an identical polymer block or contains a plurality of polymer blocks. The method comprises reacting a di-halo initiator with a selected monomer one or more times and then reacting the resulting moiety with a dithiol compound of the structure HS—R—SH.