Xanthates as chain-transfer agents in controlled radical polymerization (MADIX): Structural effect of the O-alkyl group

Mathias Destarac (1) , W. Bzducha (1) , D. Taton (1, 2) , Isabelle Gauthier-Gillaizeau (3) , Samir Z. Zard (3)

1 Rhodia Recherches
2 LCPO - Laboratoire de Chimie des polymères organiques
3 DCSO - Laboratoire de synthèse organique

The capability of three chain-transfer agents, O-alkyl-S-(1-ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl xanthates (CH3-CHCO2C2H5)S(C=S)OZ', to control the free-radical polymerization of styrene and ethyl acrylate by the MADIX process was examined. The reactivity of the xanthates varied according to the following trend: Z' = CH2CH3 < CH2CF3 < CH[P(O)(OEt)2]CF3. This change in reactivity allowed a lowering of the polydispersity index from 2.0 for Z' = CH2CH3 to 1.15 for Z' = CH[P(O)(OEt)2]CF3 in the case of the polymerization of styrene.

Mathias Destarac, W. Bzducha, D. Taton, Isabelle Gauthier-Gillaizeau, Samir Z. Zard. Xanthates as chain-transfer agents in controlled radical polymerization (MADIX): Structural effect of the O-alkyl group. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2002, 23 (17), pp.1049-1054. ⟨10.1002/marc.200290002⟩. ⟨hal-00954865⟩