The capability of three chain‐transfer agents, O‐alkyl‐S‐(1‐ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl xanthates (CH3CHCO2C2H5)S(CS)OZ′, to control the free‐radical polymerization of styrene and ethyl acrylate by the MADIX process was examined. The reactivity of the xanthates varied according to the following trend: Z′ CH2CH3 < CH2CF3 < CH[P(O)(OEt)2]CF3. This change in reactivity allowed a lowering of the polydispersity index from 2.0 for Z′ CH2CH3 to 1.15 for Z′ CH[P(O)(OEt)2]CF3 in the case of the polymerization of styrene.