Macromolecular Design via the Interchange of Xanthates (MADIX): Polymerization of styrene with O-ethyl xanthates as controlling agents

Mathias Destarac (1) , C. Brochon (2) , J.-M. Catala (2) , A. Wilczewska (1) , Samir Z. Zard (3)

1 Rhodia Recherches
2 ICS - Institut Charles Sadron
3 DCSO - Laboratoire de synthèse organique

A series of eight xanthates of the general structure R-S(C=S)OEt as reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer agents to achieve the control of free-radical polymerization of styrene. The influence of the nature of R leaving group was also explored. It was found that the transfer ability of the xanthate is markedly improved with increasing stability of R and its steric hindrance. The cyanoisopropyl group was shown to the best group, leading to an increase in the molecular weight during polymerization that was close to linearity. A zero-order dependence of the kinetics of polymerization on the xanthate concentration was also observed.

Mathias Destarac, C. Brochon, J.-M. Catala, A. Wilczewska, Samir Z. Zard. Macromolecular Design via the Interchange of Xanthates (MADIX): Polymerization of styrene with O-ethyl xanthates as controlling agents. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2002, 203 (16), pp.2281-2289. ⟨10.1002/macp.200290002⟩. ⟨hal-00954859⟩