| Abstract: | A novel trifunctional iniferter with photoinduced and thermal chemical dissociation functional groups in one molecule, diethyl 2,3‐dicyano‐2,3‐di(p‐N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamylmethyl)phenylsuccinate (DDDCS), was successfully synthesized. The bulk polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate initiated by DDDCS under UV‐light irradiation and heating, respectively, were studied. The polymerizations proceeded via a living polymerization process in both cases; that is, the conversion and molecular weight of the resulting polymer increased linearly with increased reaction time. The resulting polymers, containing α‐ and ω‐N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamyl end groups, served as macroiniferters for further block copolymerization. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies showed that DDDCS initiated as a photoiniferter under UV‐light irradiation by reversible C? S‐bond dissociation and as a thermal iniferter under heating by reversible hexasubstituted C? C‐bond dissociation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2115–2120, 2000 |
