Five S-alkyl di-tert-butylphosphorylated carbodithioates, Z-C(S)SR, were studied as chain transfer agents (CTAs) in the RAFT polymerization of vinyl monomers. These phosphorus-containing CTAs involve new P III and P V moieties in the Z group (phosphineborane or free phosphine). Two of them, with an S-bonded 1-methoxycarbonylethyl group as leaving group, have not previously been described. The CTAs with a P V Z group provide good control over the polymerization of styrene (St) and n-butyl acrylate (nBA). Molar masses are close to theoretical values and dispersities are consistently low during polymerization. The monitoring of polymerization by 31 P NMR spectroscopy supports the controlled character and the integrity of the polymer chain ends. Conversely, they inhibit the polymerization of the lessactivated monomer vinyl acetate (VAc). The reactivity of the CTAs with a P III Z group mainly depends on the reaction medium, and their performance for St, nBA and VAc was surprising and unexpected. Theoretical calculations were carried out in order to rationalize their behavior.Finally, an innovative strategy was developed to obtain well-controlled polymers with free phosphine -chain ends.