Sono-RAFT Polymerization in Aqueous Medium

The ultrasonic irradiation of aqueous solution is demonstrated to be a suitable source of initiating radicals for a controlled radical polymerization when conducted in the presence of a thiocarbonylthio-containing reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent. This allows for a highly green method of externally regulated/controlled polymerization with a potentially broad scope for polymerizable monomers and/or polymer structures.