Synthesis and characterization of diethyl-dithiocarbamic acid 2-[4-(2-diethylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl-2-phenyl-acetyl)-2,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl ester as new reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent for polymerization of ethyl methacrylate

Diethyl-dithiocarbamic acid 2-[4-(2-diethylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl-2-phenyl-acetyl)-2,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl ester as a novel di-functional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was synthesized based on 2,5-diketopiperazine. The RAFT agent was designed based on the propagating core (<i>R</i> group) approach and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and melting point technique. Then, ethyl methacrylate was synthesized via free radical and RAFT polymerizations. To investigate the effect of the RAFT agent on the kinetic of polymerization, molecular weight, and polydispersity index (PDI) of polymers and also monomer conversion were monitored. Also, synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, and TGA. Characterization analyses of synthesized RAFT agent were consistent with the structure. NMR and FTIR analyses confirmed end group incorporation of RAFT agent into polymer structure. According to results, poly(ethyl methacrylate) with low PDI (1.14) was obtained. Kinetic study indicated well-controlled polymerization of ethyl methacrylate by synthesized RAFT agent. TGA results showed that RAFT agent could reduce termination reactions and so reduce head-to-head bonds and chain-end unsaturation by keeping the concentration of radicals low enough.