Polymerization of Styrene Mediated by Sterically Hindered Phenoxazinyl Radicals and Their Sources

For the first time, it has been proposed to use sterically hindered phenoxazinyl radicals and their sources for the reversible deactivation radical polymerization of styrene. Using the example of 2,4,6,8-tetra(tert-butyl)phenoxazin-10-yl, 2,4,6,8-tetra(tert-butyl)phenoxazin-1-one, and a number of paramagnetic tin(IV) complexes, it has been shown that polystyrene with a narrow molecular weight distribution (Đ ~ 1.2) can be synthesized in the reversible inhibition mode in the mild temperature range of 70–90°C.