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

Poly(styrene-co-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 (Đ < 1.40) polymerizations were observed.