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A synthetic route for the preparation of a novel solution copolymer derived from styrene (St), pyrrole (Py) and its organoclay nanocomposite with conductive and mechanical properties is demonstrated. The electroactive copolymer of polystyrene-g-polypyrrole (PSt-g-Ppy) nanocomposite was successfully prepared by atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) and chemical polymerisation methods. First, potassium pyrrole was reacted by a-chlorophenyl acetyl chloride to prepare an initiator that can polymerise styrene by ATRP technique. Then, polypyrrole was prepared by chemical polymerisation using FeCl 3 as an oxidant in dichloromethane , s solvent. Nanocomposites of the copolymer with modified montmorillonite were prepared with a solution intercalation method. The conductivity of the copolymer was measured by the four-point probe method. The structures of the intermediate, copolymer and nanocomposite were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 H-NMR and X-ray diffraction techniques. The molecular weight of the copolymer was determined by gel permeation chromatography. Their thermal behaviour was examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses.

An efficient and straightforward one pot synthesis of m-terphenyl-2'-carbaldehyde derivatives via cascade reaction of aryl Grignard magnesium bromide with 1,3-dichloroiodobenzene is described. Via the reactions three carbon-carbon bonds are constructed and m-terphenyls are obtained in good yields.

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization enables the synthesis of controlled architectures for a wide-variety of polymers with defined end and pendant functionalities using mild conditions. A simple synthetic route for the preparation of polystyrene (PS)/ZnO nanocomposite with well-defined structure is demonstrated. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by homogeneous precipitation. To reduce the aggregation among ZnO nanoparticles, an effective surface modification method was proposed by grafting polystyrene onto the ZnO particles. The surface of ZnO nanoparticles was firstly treated with a 4-cyano-4-[(4-methoxyphenyl carbon thiol) solfanylvaleric acid] coupling RAFT agent in the presence of THF as a solvent at 658C. A carboxylic group in raft agent attached to ZnO nanoparticles by the esterification reaction with the hydroxyl groups on the ZnO particle surface. Then, RAFT polymerization of styrene was subsequently conducted to graft PS onto the exterior surface of ZnO nanoparticles by new RAFT agent 4-cyano-4-[(4-methoxyphenyl carbon thiol) solfanylvaleric acid]. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo gravimetric (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). POLYM. ENG. SCI.,