Radical polymerization of p-substituted styrenes with benzyl phenyl selenide as photoiniferter

Benzyl phenyl selenides were used as photoiniferters for polymerizations of p-bromostyrene, p-chloromethylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, and p-vinylbenzyl acetate. In the limited range of conversion (less than or equal to 50%), polymer yields and number-average molecular weights increased with polymerization time. Polymers from p-methoxybenzyl p-trimethylsilylphenyl selenide contained the benzyl and arylseleno groups at alpha- and omega-chain ends, respectively. Photoirradiation of polystyrene containing a phenylseleno group at the omega-chain end as polymeric photoiniferter afforded effectively block copolymers of styrene and p-substituted styrenes.