Title

Synthesis and Architectural Analysis of Arborescent (Dendritic) Polystyrenes

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2009

Abstract

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of styrene and 4-vinylbenzyl dithiobenzoate, a RAFT-based inimer (initiator-monomer), is described. Controlled polymerization was achieved in bulk conditions using thermal initiation at 110 °C to give arborescent polystyrene (arbPSt). The number-average molecular weights of the polymers increased linearly with conversion and were much higher than theoretically calculated for a linear polymerization, reaching Mn = 364,000 g/mol with Mw/Mn = 2.65. Branching analysis by NMR showed an average of 3.5 branches per chain. SEC data, which were similar to those measured in arborescent polyisobutylene, supported the architectural analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7621–7627, 2008

Publication Title

Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry

Volume

46

Issue

23

First Page

7621

Last Page

7627

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