A new photoiniferter/RAFT agent for ambient temperature rapid and well-controlled radical polymerization

Phenacyl morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate is synthesized and characterized. Its capability to act as both a photoiniferter and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer agent for the polymerization of styrene is examined. Polymerization carried out in bulk under ultra violet irradiation at above 300 nm at room temperature shows controlled free radical polymerization characteristics up to 50% conversions and produces well-defined polymers with molecular weights close to those predicted from theory and relatively narrow poyldispersities (M-w/M-n similar to 1.30). End group determination and block copolymerization with methyl acrylate suggest that morpholino dithiocarbamate groups were attained at the end of the polymer. Photolysis and polymerization studies revealed that polymerization proceeds via both reversible termination and RAFT mechanisms. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.