Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization of Poly(ethylmethacrylate) with Pendant Carbazole Groups

Carbazole containing polymers have captured the interest of researchers for use in optoelectronics. For an important material to exhibit its optoelectronic properties intrinsic uniformity in the molecular level is required. Thus, a monomer of ethyl methacrylate with pendant carbazole group was synthesized and polymerized via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) to produce polymers with controlled molecular weight distribution and narrow polydispersity index (PDI). This method of polymerization was compared with that of free radical polymerization by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The RAFT’s polymerization kinetics was observed to follow a plot of number average molecular weight (Mn) versus % conversion, characteristic of living polymerization. It was also shown to possess polymer chain extension capability. The structure of the monomer and the polymers were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).