Synthesis of star polystyrene by radical polymerization with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(p-tert-butylphenyl selenomethyl)benzene as a novel photoiniferter

1,2,4,5-Tetrakis(p-tert-butylphenylselenomethyl)benzene was synthesized and used as a tetrafunctional photoiniferter for the polymerization of styrene. Both the yield and the number average molecular weight (Mn) of polymers increased with reaction time and Mn linearly increased with yield of polymer. The polymerization of styrene using this novel photoiniferter permitted formation of star-shaped polystyrene containing arylseleno groups at the chain ends, and the average degree of functionality was 3.2. Photopolymerization of styrene with end-functional star polystyrene as polymeric photoiniferter afforded polystyrene having high molecular weight.