Study on reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of MMA in the presence of 2-cyanoprop-2-yl 1-dithiophenanthrenate (CPDPA)

The RAFT polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in the presence of 2-cyanoprop-2-yl 1-dithiophenanthrenate (CPDPA). The results exhibit controlled polymerization characters: well-controlled molecular weight with narrow polydispersity (minimal value: 1.04) molecular weight linearly increasing with conversion and first-order kinetics of polymerization. The resulting polymer can be used to synthesize methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymer with narrow polydispersity. The effect of molar ratio among MMA/CPDPA/AIBN on polymerization was investigated.