Preparation of organic polymers using organometallic terminated blocks to produce metal free block copolymers

A method of preparing a block copolymer having blocks of the formula ##STR50## comprising reacting a first polymer block

• (R').sub.b M--Y--P--Y--M(R').sub.b
• where
• each M is independently tin, germanium, lead, or thallium;
• each R' is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl group;
• each Y is independently oxygen, sulfur, or substituted nitrogen or phosphorus;
• each b is an integer one less than the valence of the element M to which it pertains;
• P is a divalent polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, polyphenylene ether ketone, polyalkylene ether ketone, polytetrahydrofurane, polydimethylsiloxane, polymethylphenylsiloxane, polyphenylene ether sulfone, polyalkylene ether sulfone, polycarbonate, or polyurethane polymeric group;
• with a second polymer block ##STR51## where each X is independently halide, imidazole, RO--, RS--, or a group capable of reacting with the first reactant to eliminate a by-product containing M and X, R being a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or aliphatic group or hydrogen;
• each B is independently carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, or a direct bond;
• each Z is independently oxygen, sulfur, or an imino group;
• each D is independently an aromatic, aliphatic, RO--, RS--, or R.sub.2 N-- group if B is phosphorus and an aryl, alkyl, or RO-- group if B is silicon;
• each d is independently 1 if B is carbon;
• 0 or 1 if B is phosphorus;
• 0, 1 or 2 if B is sulfur;
• and 0 if B is silicon or a direct bond;
• each e is independently 0 if B is carbon, sulfur, or a direct bond;
• 1 if B is phosphorus;
• and 2 if B is silicon;
• and
• Q is a divalent polyester, polyamide, polyphenylene ether ketone, polyphenylene ether sulfone, polycarbonate, polydimethylsiloxane, or polymethylphenylsiloxane polymeric group.