Achieving high conversions in nitroxide‐mediated living styrene miniemulsion polymerization

Abstract

Abstract Nitroxide‐mediated living radical polymerizations of styrene were run in miniemulsion. Using a modified miniemulsion process that does not require the use of a volatile costabilizer, near complete conversions could be achieved in 2‐3 hours while preserving narrow molecular weight distributions and a high degree of chain livingness. Increased rates and final conversions were achieved by semi‐batch addition of the nitroxide scavenger ascorbic acid.