Facile room temperature RAFT polymerization via redox initiation

Abstract

Facile room temperature RAFT polymerizations of methyl acrylate and styrene have been successfully performed using the redox system of BPO and DMA as the initiator in the presence of benzyl 1H-imidazole-1-carbodithioate. Since this redox initiator is available, much cheaper, and has large decomposition rate constant, we believe it will make the room temperature RAFT polymerization more promising and attractive at both academic and industrial standpoints.