New chain transfer agents for radical polymerization based on the addition‐fragmentation mechanism

Abstract
This study describes 15 compounds with allylic or pentadienic structure carrying either captodative (cd) carbon‐ or heteroatom substituents as potential radical leaving groups in an addition‐fragmentation reaction. Their experimental evaluation as chain‐transfer agents (CTA) was achieved in radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate. The α‐(cd‐substituted methyl)acrylates 9 and 11 were more efficient than the t‐thioether 10 in lowering molecular weight of polystyrene. The dienes are particularly effective and provide macromonomers with terminal diene functions which are very useful for further copolymerization with a variety of vinyl monomers.

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