Organotellurium compounds as novel initiators for controlled/living radical polymerizations. Synthesis of functionalized polystyrenes and end-group modifications.

Polymer-end mimetic organotellurium compounds initiate controlled/living radical polymerization of styrene derivatives that allows accurate molecular weight control with defined end-groups. Transformations of the end-groups via radical and ionic reactions provide a variety of end-group modified polystyrenes.