Synthesis and Characterization of well Defined Polychloroprene by RAFT Polymerization

Well defined polychloroprene has been synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with 2-(ethoxycarbonyl) prop-2-yl dithiobenzoate (EPDTB) as RAFT agent, AIBN as initiator, Chloroprene as monomer. Polymerization with two different feed ratios of monomer to RAFT agent were carried out. The sampling products at different reaction times were characterized using GPC and 1H-NMR. The GPC results demonstrated the molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn) were narrow, and the number average molecular weight (Mn) was developed linearly with monomer conversion. All the characteristic signals of polychloroprene with the EPDTB as terminal groups were clearly observed in the 1H-NMR spectrum. In addition, the chain-extended polymers were also obtained successfully using the macro-RAFT agent, which indicated the active nature of the chain end.