Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Initiated by Poly(methyl methacrylate) Peroxide

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate) peroxide (PMMAP) was synthesized and used as the initiator in the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the monomer and 2-cyanoprop-2-yl 1-dithionaphthalate (CPDN) as the chain transfer agent was used in the polymerization system. The polymerization was successfully initiated by PMMAP while maintaining features of "living"/controlled radical polymerization such as the number-average molecular weights (M n ) increasing linearly with the monomer conversions and low polydispersity index (PDI) values. The results of 1 H NMR and IR spectra confirmed that a small quantity of polymer chains were derived from the PMMAP moieties. The PMMAP can also initiate the RAFT polymerization of styrene (St) and methyl acrylate (MA), and the polymerization proceeded in a "living"/controlled fashion.