Issue 6, 2024

Photoiniferter-RAFT polymerization mediated by bis(trithiocarbonate) disulfides

Abstract

Photoiniferter reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (PI-RAFT) polymerization has gained significant attention; however, scalable methodologies are still lacking. Here, we investigate the use of a RAFT agent precursor, butyltrithiocarbonate disulfide (BisTTC), as an iniferter agent for the polymerization of two model monomers – methyl acrylate (MA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Different wavelengths of light were screened to optimise polymerization conditions for both monomers. While BisTTC can photodissociate and initiate polymerization, its activation under visible light is slow and competes with photodegradation. As for methyl acrylate, degradation only occurs during the induction period, so efficient initiation minimises potential side reactions, but the poly(methyl methacrylate)trithiocarbonate end group continues to degrade during polymerization due to the increased lifetime and stability of the propagating radical. Higher energy blue light gives poorer control than green light for the polymerization of MMA, due to increased photodegradation, whilst methyl acrylate polymerization is retarded under green light and requires conditions that strongly favour initiation.

Graphical abstract: Photoiniferter-RAFT polymerization mediated by bis(trithiocarbonate) disulfides

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Nov 2023
Accepted
20 Dec 2023
First published
02 Jan 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2024,15, 522-533

Photoiniferter-RAFT polymerization mediated by bis(trithiocarbonate) disulfides

M. A. Beres, J. Y. Rho, A. Kerr, T. Smith and S. Perrier, Polym. Chem., 2024, 15, 522 DOI: 10.1039/D3PY01307C

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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