Reverse Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Styrene Initiated by Tetramethylthiuram Disulfide/CuSCN/N, N,N′, N″, N″‐Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine in the Presence of Acetonitrile

Abstract

A reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene was successfully carried out in acetonitrile (28.6%, v/v), using tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD)/CuSCN/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as the initiating system. The polymerizations exhibited first‐order rate plots and linear increase of the number‐average molecular weight with conversion along with relatively low molecular weight distributions (M _w/M _n). However, induction periods of the polymerization were relatively long. ¹H NMR spectra analyses revealed α‐S₂CN(CH₃)₂ and ω‐SCN end groups on the polystyrene chain.

Keywords:

• Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization
• Living polymerization
• Tetramethylthiuram disulfide
• Styrene
• N, N, N′, N″, N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 20176033) and the Nature Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK2001141) for support for this work.