Trithiocarbonates prepared from iodo-functionalized RITP-polymers

Iodo-terminated polymers (polystyrene, polybutyl acrylate and polyvinyl acetate) were synthesized by reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP) and then used to form homopolymeric trithiocarbonates through a coupling reaction induced by Cs2CO3/CS2. The resulting polymeric trithiocarbonates were subsequently used in RAFT polymerization to form ABA block copolymers. This coupling reaction was extended to some iodo-terminated AB diblock copolymers prepared entirely by RITP to form ABA triblock copolymers.