Cyclic‐Amine‐Based Dithiocarbamate Chain Transfer Agents for the RAFT Polymerization of Less Activated Monomers

Abstract A series of pyrrolidine‐, piperidine‐, and imidazoline‐based dithiocarbamate CTAs have been synthesized and utilized to control the polymerization of vinyl monomers. The controlling ability of the CTAs depends on the presence of both activating and re‐initiating groups and the monomer used. Pyrrolidine‐ and piperidine‐based CTAs proved reasonably good for controlling vinyl acetate polymerizations. The living nature of the vinyl acetate polymerizations was studied by kinetics and chain extension reactions. Interestingly the vinyl acetate polymers synthesized using these pyrrolidine and piperidine based CTAs were almost colorless when precipitated and, therefore, were interesting considering the industrial applications of these polymers. magnified image