Bioderived copolymer alternatives to poly(styrene--maleic anhydride) RAFT-mediated copolymerization.

Poly(styrene--maleic anhydride) (SMAnh) is a petroleum-based copolymer with desirable properties that afford utility in both industrial and academic fields. The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerization of the bioderived comonomers, indene and itaconic anhydride, was explored using three chain transfer agents with varying activity, and generally well-controlled ( < 1.40) polymerizations were observed.