RAFT step-growth polymerization of bis-acrylamides and their facile degradation

Abstract

Demonstrated is the successful A₂ + B₂ RAFT step-growth polymerization of bis-acrylamides using a bifunctional trithiocarbonate chain transfer agent as the comonomer. Remarkably, homopropagation typical of acrylamides leading to branching and crosslinking was not observed. Moreover, synthesized poly(acrylamides) can be degraded by simply adding excess ethanolamine or PBu₃.