Dithiobenzoic copper(II): A novel, facile, and stable mediating agent combining ATRP and RAFT features for reversible deactivation radical polymerization of methacrylates

Abstract

Novel, facile, and stable mediating agent (dithiobenzoic copper(II)) combining atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) characteristics was firstly designed by replacing the halogen of ATRP metal catalyst with thiocarbonyl carboxylic group of RAFT agent. As two kinds of mediating agents (ATRP activator and RAFT agent) may be formed in situ during the polymerization process, the polymerization of various methacrylates can be controlled in presence of a high molar ratio of radical initiator to catalyst. Furthermore, the resultant polymer possessed dithiobenzoate chain-end functional group, which was confirmed by IH NMR analyses and chain-extension reaction.