Living Radical Polymerization of Trimethylsilylstyrene

We have demonstrated the synthesis of poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene) by living polymerization techniques. The use of cupruous bromide, di-n-nonylbipyridine, and phenethylbromide to polymerize neat 4-trimethylsilylstyrene at 120°C results in a narrow molecular weight polymer. The method improves on the polymer specifications made by conventional free radical methods.