Controlled RAFT Polymerization of N‐Vinylphthalimide and its Hydrazinolysis to Poly(vinyl amine)

Polymerization of NVPI was carried out by a RAFT process using five xanthate‐type, a dithiocarbamate‐type, and a dithioester‐type CTA. The xanthate‐type [O‐ethyl‐S‐(1‐ethoxy carbonyl) ethyl dithiocarbonate and O‐ethyl‐S‐(1‐ethoxycarbonyl‐1‐methyl)ethyl dithiocarbonate] and the dithiocarbamate‐type CTA (benzyl‐1‐pyrrolecarbodithioate) were the most efficient to obtain poly(NVPI) with controlled molecular weights (M ₙ = 4 100–13 000) and low polydispersities (M w / M ₙ = 1.29–1.38). The effects of parameters such as solvent, temperature, and CTA‐to‐initiator molar ratio, were examined in order to determine the conditions leading to optimal control of the polymerization. magnified image