Sg. Gaynor et al., CONTROLLED RADICAL POLYMERIZATION BY DEGENERATIVE TRANSFER - EFFECT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE TRANSFER AGENT, Macromolecules, 28(24), 1995, pp. 8051-8056
Control of the radical polymerization of styrene and acrylates has bee
n achieved by using alkyl iodides in a degenerative transfer process.
Various transfer agents of the type R-I were explored. Of those examin
ed, 1-phenylethyl iodide, iodoacetonitrile, and iodoform were found to
be effective in controlling molecular weights and for providing polym
ers with relatively low polydispersities, M(w)/M(n) less than or equal
to 1.5. Relatively good control has been also achieved with perfluoro
alkyl iodides, whereas most alkyl and aryl iodides have been ineffecti
ve transfer agents. Also explored were the effects of initiator struct
ure and reaction temperature on the polymerization systems.