Controlled/living radical polymerization of styrene catalyzed by cobaltocene

Abstract Controlled/living radical polymerization of styrene has been achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) catalyzed by cobaltocene (PDI = 1.27–1.41). The effects of the initiators, temperatures and solvents were studied. The end group of PS–Br was characterized by 1 H NMR. Block copolymerization proved that the polymer end is still living and the PMMA- b -PSt block copolymer was synthesized.