REVERSE ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH COPPER-BASED CATALYST

 "Living"/controlled radical polymerization of styrene was carried out with diethyl 2,3-dicyano-2,3-diphenylsuccinate (DCDPS)/CuCl₂/bipyridine (bipy) initiation system at 120℃. The molecular weights of resultant PSt increased with the monomer conversion and the polydispersities were in the range of 1.37 ～ 1.52. A linear ln(M]o/M])versus time plot was also obtained indicating the constant concentration of growing radicals during the polymerization with this initiation system. End group analysis by ¹H-NMR spectroscopic studies showed that the end groups of the polymer obtained is cω-functionalized by a chlorine group from the catalyst and a-functionalized by a (carbethoxy-cyano-phenyl)methyl group from the fragments of the initiator. Having C1 atom at the chain end, the PSt obtained can be used as a macroinitiator to promote a chain-extension reaction with fresh St and block copolymerization reaction with a second monomer, such as methyl methacrylate, in the presence of CuC1/bipy catalyst via a conventional ATRP process.