Dithiocarbamates as universal reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agents

Abstract

Control of the radical polymerization of acrylates, styrene and vinyl acetate has been achieved by using novel dithiocarbamates as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agents. The key parameter for the control with N,N-disubstituted (A) or cyclic (B) dithiocarbamates was found to be the conjugation of the lone pair of electrons of the nitrogen atom with carbonyl or aromatic groups.