Controlled/'living' radical polymerization with dendrimers containing stable radicals

TEMPO-based stable radicals are attached to dendrimers of variables size and used to control radical polymerization of styrene, vinyl acetate, and (meth) acrylates. Thermal polymerization of styrene with [G-2]-TEMPO proceeds in a similar but not better controlled manner than with TEMPO alone. In polymerization of styrene initiated with PBO, the kinetics and the weight/conversion relations show the same tendency as with TEMPO, though the polydispersity is higher than in the absence of dendrimers. This indicates that homolytic cleavage occurs at the reaction temperature, monomer can diffuse inside the cavity of the dendrimer, and polymer is at least partially compatible with the dendrimers. Further results are presented.