Highly Functionalized Macromolecules Based on Free Radical Copolymerization of Substituted Stilbene Monomers S. Richard Turner, Department of Chemistry and Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 Alternating Copolymerization of Substituted Stilbenes with Maleic Anhydride Like Charge Attraction of Double Hydrophilic Rod-Coil Block Copolymers hydrolysis Double hydrophilic rod-coil block copolymers (DHBC) of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) and N,N,N’,N’-tetraethyl-4,4’-diaminostilbenes-alt-maleic anhydride) were synthesized using a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process. There block copolymers were observed to display unexpected enhanced aggregation in salt solution due to “like-charge attraction” of the stiff ampholytic block segments. Substituted stilbene monomers, such as N,N,N’,N’-tetraethyl-4,4’-diaminostilbenes have been found to readily form alternating copolymer with maleic anhydride. Such copolymers were found to have unique cis enchainment of the maleic anhydride.