Amine-reactive polymers synthesized by RAFT polymerization using an azlactone functional trithiocarbonate RAFT agent.

A new azlactone-derived trithiocarbonate is prepared and used as a chain-transfer agent to mediate the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene, ethyl acrylate, and N-isopropyl acrylamide. Well-defined polymers with controlled molecular weights (M(n) = 1000-7000 g mol(-1) ) and narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI = 1.05-1.10) are thus obtained that retain the azlactone functionality at the chain end. The ability of the resulting end-functionalized polymers to react quantitatively at room temperature with a stoichiometric amount of amino groups with retention of the thiocarbonylthio moiety is ascertained by using 4-fluorobenzylamine and allylamine.