Volume 63, Issue 12 e202318898
Communication

Reversible Thiyl Radical Addition−Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

Yongjin Wang

Yongjin Wang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China

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Jiaman Du

Jiaman Du

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China

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Prof. Hanchu Huang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Hanchu Huang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China

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First published: 29 January 2024
Citations: 4

Graphical Abstract

A first reversible thiyl radical addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SRAFT) polymerization strategy has been developed, which could directly control the thiyl radical chain polymerizations to afford polymers with a controlled molecular weight and high chain-end fidelity.

Abstract

Developing reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) methods that could directly control the thiyl radical propagation is highly desirable yet remains challenging in modern polymer chemistry. Here, we reported the first reversible thiyl radical addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SRAFT) polymerization strategy, which utilizes allyl sulfides as chain transfer agents for reversibly deactivating the propagating thiyl radicals, thus allowing us to directly control a challenging thiyl radical chain polymerization to afford polymers with well-defined architectures. A linear dependence of molecular weight on conversion, high chain-end fidelity, and efficient chain extension proved good controllability of the polymerization. In addition, density functional theory calculations provided insight into the reversible deactivation ability of allyl sulfides. The SRAFT strategy developed in this work represents a promising platform for discovering new controlled polymerizations based on thiyl radical chemistry.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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