Synthesis of macromonomer from radical polymerization of styrene with a polymerizable photoiniferter

α-(Methacrylyoxylethyloxycarbonylmethyl)-ω-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamyl)polystyrene macromonomers with different molecular weights were prepared by radical polymerization of styrene (St) using β-methacryloxylethyl 2-N,N-diethyldithiocarbamylacetate (MAEDCA) as a polymerizable photoiniferter in toluene under ultraviolet light. The polymerization of St with MAEDCA carried out by a “living” process; that is, both the yield and the molecular weight of the resultant polymers increased with increasing of reaction time, and the resultant polymer was a macromonomer, for example, α-(methacrylyoxylethyloxycarbonylmethyl)-ω-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamyl)polystyrene, designated as PSt-macromonomer. The molecular weight of the PSt-macromonomer depended on the concentrations of the polymerizable photoiniferter and St, as well as the conversion of St. The PSt-macromonomer can copolymerize with MMA initiated by AIBN at 65°C to form a graft copolymer (PMMA-graft-PSt) with PSt branches randomly distributed along the PMMA backbone.