Controlled synthesis of styrene-n-butyl acrylate copolymers with various chain microstructures mediated by dibenzyl trithiocarbonate

Copolymers of styrene and n -butyl acrylate are synthesized via pseudoliving radical copolymerization mediated by dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer agent. In a wide range of monomer feed compositions, narrowly dispersed compositionally uniform copolymers of desired molecular masses are formed, and their gradient structures are controlled by the compositions of the initial monomer feeds. The effects of the compositions, the chain microstructures, and the compositional homogeneity of the copolymers on their glass-transition temperatures are studied.