本論文開發二種聚合速率快速的新穎硫羰硫基化合物ZCS2CH2CN(1a),ZCS2CH2Ph(1b)做為可逆鏈轉移劑(reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)agent),有效的控制styrene和acrylate系單體(如tert-Butyl acrylate ,tBA)之自由基聚合反應,達到似活性自由基聚合反應,其數目平均分子量與轉化率成正比,且分子量分佈(Mw/Mn)<1.3。又得聚合物PtBA的反應速率較PS為快,可能為tBA的立體效應大,造成反應較快速。另一方面,由於Z基為強的拉電子基團(此部份涉及專利(中華民國專利申請號:92130435),此拉電子基團在此以Z基表示),造成RAFTagent(1a),(1b)的聚合反應速率增快許多。又由於此觸媒系統可聚合的單體多樣化,因此成功合成嵌段(block)共聚合的合成技術,嵌段共聚物poly(St-b-tBA),分子量分佈<1.3。
Two novel thiocarbonylthio compounds (ZCS2CH2CN (1a) and ZCS2CH2Ph (1b)) were developed as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents for free radical polymerization. These compounds demonstrate an effective control on free radical polymerization of styrene and acrylate monomers (e.g. tert-Butyl acrylate, tBA), and the reaction behaves like living free radical polymerization with a number average molecular weight proportional to conversion and a narrow polydispersity (Mw/Mn < 1.3). The steric effect of the tBA group may result in the higher reaction rate of PtBA polymerization than that of PS polymerization. Z (Taiwan patent pending number: 92130435), a strong electron-drawing group, can modify the activities of the RAFT agents (1a and 1b) and thus promote the polymerization rate.This catalyst system provides a great variety of monomers for polymerization reactions and thus facilitates the manufacture of poly(St-b-tBA) block copolymers with a narrow polydispersity (Mw/Mn < 1.3).