Synthesis of 9H-fluoren-9-yl benzodithioates and their application as reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents in living radical polymerization of styrene

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is one of living radical polymerizations. In this study, four different 9H-fluoren-9-yl benzodithiolates (FBDTs) were synthesized, and used along with azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN), a radical initiator, in polymerization of styrene (ST) at the molar ratio of 3:1. This new transfer agent exhibited the typical characteristic living free radical polymerization behaviors such as good control of molecule weight and narrow molecule weight distribution. It was concluded that the FBDTs can be used as the RAFT agents in free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers.