Azo-Derived Symmetrical Trithiocarbonate for Unprecedented RAFT Control

Abstract

Bis(2-cyanopropan-2-yl)trithiocarbonate (TTC-bCP) is a new symmetrical trithiocarbonate with the best leaving group ever reported for reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. We propose an elegant route to obtain TTC-bCP starting from 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) as a donor of the 2-cyanopropan-2-yl group. TTC-bCP allowed the preparation of a high-molar-mass (M_n ≈ 135 kg mol^-1) methyl methacrylate-n-butyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate triblock copolymer with unprecedented control (D̵ = 1.04) in reversible-deactivation radical polymerization. Rheology measurements of this triblock copolymer showed a typical thermoplastic elastomer behavior with a steady rubbery plateau up to 120 °C.