Simultaneous Control over Monomer Sequence and Molecular Weight Using the RAFT Process

Abstract

A simultaneous control over molecular weight and monomer sequence is highly desirable since they strongly influence the properties of polymers.The reversible additionfragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) process is ideally suited to provide control over molecular weight for a wide range of copolymerizations because of the tolerance of the RAFT process towards functional groups and reaction conditions. Here we highlight that RAFT can be used to prepare polymers with well-defined alternating or periodic monomer sequences and controlled, narrowly distributed, molecular weight.