RAFT polymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate:: Preparation of reactive linear diblock copolymer

Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (PFMA) was carried out in the presence of cumyldithiobenzoate and 4-cyano-4-((thiobenzoyl)sulfanyl)pentanoic acid, respectively. These chain transfer agents with 2,2'-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator yielded the active ester polymer poly(PFMA) with (M) over bar (n) up to 17 000 g center dot mol(-1) and low polydispersity index ((M) over bar (w)/(M) over bar (n) < 1.2). Kinetic analysis using F-19 NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements showed controlled polymerization behavior for both chain transfer agents. Successful preparation of linear diblock copolymers consisting of an active ester block and methyl methacrylate, N-acryloylmorpholine, or N,N-diethylacrylamide, respectively, could be demonstrated. These polymers could easily react with amines in a polymer analogous reaction to form multifunctional polymers.