Preparation of well-defined acid-cleavable branched polymers composed of methacrylates and acrylates

Acid-cleavable branched polymers composed of a methacrylate and two acrylates were prepared through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The molecular weight of primary chains and the degree of branching of the polymers were controlled by the feed ratio of monomer/chain transfer agent (CTA) and brancher/CTA, respectively. Glass transition temperatures of the polymers increased as the degree of branching grew due to an increase in molecular weight. When the branched polymers were hydrolyzed, molecular weight and polydispersity index value were similar to those of linear polymer prepared by RAFT polymerization with the same molar feed ratio of monomer/CTA.