A synthetic approach to a novel class of fluorine-bearing reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents: F-RAFT

A synthetic route is described to a novel class of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents bearing a fluorine Z-group. Such F-RAFT agents are theoretically predicted to allow living free radical polymerization of various monomers without affecting the rate of polymerization, and should also facilitate the construction of block copolymers from monomers with disparate reactivity. The class of F-RAFT agents is exemplified by the example of benzyl fluoro dithioformate (BFDF) in styrene free-radical polymerizations and the process is shown to induce living polymerization.