Initiation of RAFT Polymerization: Electrochemically Initiated RAFT Polymerization in Emulsion (Emulsion eRAFT), and Direct PhotoRAFT Polymerization of Liquid Crystalline Monomers

We report on two important advances in radical polymerization with reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT polymerization). (1) Electrochemically initiated emulsion RAFT (eRAFT) provides rapid of styrene at ambient temperature. The electrolytes and mediators required for eRAFT are located the aqueous continuous phase separate from low-molar-mass-dispersity macroRAFT agent mediator product dispersed phase. Use a poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-block-poly(butyl acrylate) amphiphilic composition means that no added surfactant is colloidal stability. (2) Direct photoinitiated (visible light) an effective route to high-purity, low-molar-mass-dispersity, side liquid-crystalline polymers (specifically, poly(4-biphenyl acrylate)) high monomer conversion. Photoinitiation gives free low-molar-mass initiator-derived by-products minimal termination. process compared thermal dialkyldiazene initiation various solvents. Numerical simulation was found be tool discriminating between processes selecting optimal conditions.