Polybutadiene rubber with the fluorescence and thermo-responsive properties was synthesized by macromolecular design.Firstly

the block copolymer polybutadiene-b-poly(-caprolactone)(HTBCP) was synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactone in presence of a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene(HTBP)

which was catalyzed by stannous octanoate[Sn(Oct)2].With the help of -caprolactone

polybutadiene rubber was improved in molecular weight and heat resistance

which was also terminated by hydroxyl (-OH).Then the macro-monomer of carboxyl- terminated poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)(PNIPAm-COOH) was synthesized via the free radical polymerization in presence of mercaptoacetic acid(MAA).Finally the copolymer of polybutadiene rubber(HTBCP-b-PNIPAm) with moderate molecular weights (Mn=8000~15000) was synthesized from polybutadiene-b-poly(-caprolactone) and the macro-monomer of carboxyl- terminated poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) by the condensation reaction

which was catalyzed by dichloroacety chloride(DCC).The polymer of polybutadiene-b-poly(-caprolactone)(HTBCP)

poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAm-COOH) and polybutadiene rubber (HTBCP-b-PNIPAm) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

gel permeation chromatography (GPC)

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis)

fluorescence spectroscopy etc.The results suggested that the copolymer of polybutadiene rubber was fluorescent having UV absorption at 274 nm and fluorescence excitation at 304 nm; besides the copolymer of polybutadiene rubber showed a critical phase transition temperature (LCST) at 30℃

at temperatures higher than 30℃

the copolymer HTBCP-b-PNIPAm has hydrophobic/hydrophobic chain segments

on the other hand it has hydrophobic/hydrophilic chain segments.The polybutadiene rubber with the fluorescence and thermo-responsive properties will make contribution in the field of luminescent or separating material.