Synthesis and polymerization of ��-methacrylyoxyl-ethyloxycarbonylmethyl-��-(N,N- diethyldithiocarbamyl) polystyrene macromonomers

Polystyrene macromonomers with different molecular weight were prepared by radical polymerization of styrene (St) in benzene using ??-methacryloxylethyl 2-N,N-diethyldithiocarbamylacetate (MAEDCA) as a monomer-iniferter. Characterization of the macromonomer by 1H-NMR showed that the end groups were ??-methacrylyoxylethyloxycarbonyl-methyl and ??-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamyl). The macromonomer was difficult to homopolymerize, but it was easily copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by AIBN to form graft copolymers (PMMA-g-PSt) with PSt branches randomly distributed along the PMMA backbone. Copolymerization reaction and the structure of the graft copolymers were strongly affected by Mn and concentration of the macromonomer. The composition and Mn of the purified graft copolymer were determined by 1H-NMR and GPC analysis.EI06515-5201