“Living” free radical copolymerization of styrene and <i>N</i>‐vinylcarbazole

Abstract

Abstract Poly[styrene‐ co ‐( N ‐vinylcarbazole)] copolymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities were synthesized by nitroxide‐mediated “living” free radical copolymerization using an initiator/capping agent system consisting of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and the stable nitroxyl radical 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐ N ‐oxyl (TEMPO). The copolymerization behaves in a “living” fashion and allows the synthesis of poly[styrene‐ co ‐( N ‐vinylcarbazole)]/polystyrene block copolymers via a controlled chain‐extension reaction of the prepared copolymers with styrene.