LIVING RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE USING TETRAPHENYLETHANE-BASED POLYURETHANE INIFERTER

A novel polyurethane iniferter synthesized from 1,1,2,2-tetraphenyl-1, 2-ethane diol and toluene diisocyanate has been used to polymerize sty rene through a 'living' radical mechanism. A rare equation (R-p propor tional to [styrene](1.1) [polyurethane iniferter](0.93)) and overall a ctivation energy (E-a=99 kJ mol(-1)) have been deduced from the kineti c results. The molecular weight of the polystyrene increased with incr easing polymerization time and conversion. When the polystyrene was po st-polymerized in the presence of styrene and methyl methacrylate, a h igh molecular weight polystyrene and polystyrene-poly(methyl methacryl ate) block copolymer were obtained, respectively.