Thioether-Mediated Degenerative Chain-Transfer Cationic Polymerization: A Simple Metal-Free System for Living Cationic Polymerization

Cationic degenerative chain-transfer polymerization of vinyl ethers and p-alkoxystyrenes was investigated using a series of thioethers as a reversible chain-transfer agent via the equilibrium between a growing carbocationic species and the resulting sulfonium intermediate in the presence of a small amount of triflic acid (TfOH) as a cationogen. The stable thioether, which was easily prepared from isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) and n-butanethiol, efficiently controls the molecular weight of the resulting poly(IBVE) up to Mn ∼ 1 × 105 with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) (Mw/Mn ∼ 1.2). Upon increasing the bulkiness of the alkyl substituents in the thiols (R–SH; R: n-Bu < s-Bu < t-Bu) or those in the monomers (CH2═CHOR′, R′: ethyl < isobutyl < cyclohexyl), the MWDs became broader due to the slower formation of the sulfonium intermediate for the degenerative chain-transfer reaction. For p-methoxystyrene, thioethers derived from bulkier alkylthiols or more electron-rich thiophenols are more effective. A silyl-protected difunctional dithioether produced telechelic polymers possessing hydroxyl groups at both chain ends and stable thiol linkers in the middle of the polymer chains. These polymers were subsequently used in chain-extension reactions in conjunction with diisocyanates and diols as chain extenders to be converted into high molecular weight polymers linked via urethane linkages.