Efficient metal‐free coupling of polystyrene chains using silane radical atom abstraction

Abstract

Silane radicals were used to abstract bromine from the chain terminus of monobrominated polystyrene (PStBr) chains, generating PS radicals which underwent coupling reactions to produce polystyrene (PS) of controlled, predictable molecular weights and low polydispersity index (PDI) values. This method, introduced as silane radical atom abstraction (SRAA), foregoes the requirement of metal catalysts that are utilized in atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC), while giving comparable results.