In situ xanthate deprotection to generate thiol chain transfer agents for conventional free radical linear and branched vinyl polymerization

Xanthates are used to mediate controlled polymerizations, but this paper demonstrates xanthate deprotection as a route to readily form thiol chain transfer agents in situ and prior to conventional free radical polymerization. This decreases the hazards of thiol manipulation and allows a range of polymer architectures to be synthesized under simplified conditions. The ease of xanthate synthesis also opens the potential to access tailored chain transfer agent structures which are not available commercially.