We report the unprecedented controlled radical polymerization
of 4-vinylimidazole (4VIM). Reversible addition–fragmentation
chain transfer (RAFT) of 4VIM in glacial acetic acid afforded homopolymers
with well-defined molecular weights and narrow polydispersity indices
(PDIs). The polymerizations in acetic acid mediated with 4-cyano-4-(ethylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl)pentanoic
acid (CEP) displayed linear pseudo-first-order kinetics and linear
molecular weight growth with monomer conversion. Systematic variation
of numerous polymerization parameters included solvent composition,
initiator concentration, monomer concentration, and the calculated
degree of polymerization. Aqueous size exclusion chromatography (SEC)
confirmed linear molecular weight growth to number-average molecular
weights (M
n) of 65 000 g/mol with
low PDIs (<1.20). Subsequent monomer addition confirmed the presence
of the trithiocarbonate functionality at the chain ends, which provided
further evidence of controlled polymerization conditions. Polymerizations
in traditional aqueous RAFT solvents (acidic buffers) failed to achieve
controlled molecular weight growth. Effectively controlling 4VIM homopolymerizations
enables the design of amphoteric block copolymers for emerging applications
including nucleic acid delivery and electroactive membranes.