Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by poly(methyl methacrylate) peroxide

Poly( methyl methacrylate) peroxide (PMMAP) was synthesized and used as the initiator in the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer ( RAFT) polymerization. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the monomer and 2-cyanoprop-2-yl 1-dithionaphthalate (CPDN) as the chain transfer agent was used in the polymerization system. The polymerization was successfully initiated by PMMAP while maintaining features of "living"/controlled radical polymerization such as the number-average molecular weights (M-n) increasing linearly with the monomer conversions and low polydispersity index (PDI) values. The results of H-1 NMR and IR spectra confirmed that a small quantity of polymer chains were derived from the PMMAP moieties. The PMMAP can also initiate the RAFT polymerization of styrene (St) and methyl acrylate ( MA), and the polymerization proceeded in a "living"/controlled fashion.