Degradable Polystyrene via the Cleavable Comonomer Approach

Polystyrene (PS) is a major commodity polymer widely used in various applications ranging from packaging to insulation thanks its low cost, high stiffness, and transparency as well relatively softening temperature. Similarly all polymers prepared by radical polymerization, PS constituted of C–C backbone thus not degradable. To confer degradability such materials, the copolymerization vinyl monomers with cyclic monomer that could undergo ring-opening an efficient method introduce purposely cleavable bonds into backbone. Dibenzo[c,e]-oxepane-5-thione (DOT) thionolactone known for acrylate derivatives but so far be incorporated backbones. From theoretical study combining density functional theory (DFT) kinetic models using PREDICI software, we showed modification experimental conditions overcome these limitations molar mass degradable polystyrene (Mw close 150 000 g·mol–1) via statistical insertion thioester groups This process compatible conventional free polymerization reversible deactivation (RDRP) techniques nitroxide mediated (NMP). Thanks favorable reactivity ratios allowing only few mol % units randomly incorporated, there was no thermal mechanical properties PS. The degradation performed tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature (RT) 1 h 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) base, leading oligomers Mn 2000 g·mol–1. We successfully demonstrate further applicability systems phototriggered decomposition solution synthesis cross-linked networks soluble side products.