Benzoyl Peroxide/2-Vinylpyridine Synergy in RAFT Polymerization: Synthesis of Poly(2-vinylpyridine) with Low Dispersity at Ambient Temperature

摘要

Redox-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine at room temperature without a conventional reducing agent has been realized in the presence of an oxidizing agent only, i.e., benzoyl peroxide. Well-defined poly(2-vinylpyridine) is obtained with a low dispersity (dispersity = M-w/M-n = 1.11) and a conversion efficiency of 41.4 after 24 h at 25 degrees C. The kinetics, number-average molecular weight, and dispersities for the polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine are investigated. The results indicate that the number-average molecular weight of the poly(2-vinylpyridine) increases with the monomer conversion while retaining relatively low dispersity (M-w/M-n < 1.20).