| Abstract
| - The synthesis of a range of narrow polydispersity, well-definedpoly(4-hydroxystyrene)svia a “living” radical polymerization technique is reported.The synthetic route chosen involves the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy mediated free radical polymerization ofacetoxystyrene, followed by deacetylation with base. The efficiency and molecular weight control of the“living” free radical polymerizationof 4-acetoxystyrene is compared to styrene. Further, the effect ofinitiating system, “unimolecular” or“bimolecular”, on the “living” radical polymerization of4-acetoxystyrene is also discussed. The physicaland structural properties of these well-defined polymers were used tocompare poly(4-hydroxystyrene)prepared via “conventional” free radical polymerization. Afundamental study of the dissolution of poly(4-hydroxystyrene) in aqueous base was undertaken to elucidate theeffect of polydispersity, molecularweight, and structure on the dissolution behavior of thesepolymers.
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