A stable, dithiocarbamate chain transfer agent (CTA), also referred to as a RAFT Agent, that can control chain growth in free radical polymerization, producing polymers with well-defined molecular weights, and low polydispersities. 2-Cyanobutan-2-yl 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carbodithioate can be used to control homo-polymerisation and co-polymerisation of acrylic acid, acrylates, acrylamides, and styrenes (2o MAMs), and LAMs such as vinyl acetate. Additionally, it can be used to polymerise methacrylates and methacrylamides, with good MW control, and moderate polydispersities. It can be used to make MAM-LAM block copolymers. It is soluble in organic media.
The modification of biomacromolecules, such as peptides and proteins, through the attachment of synthetic polymers has led to a new family of highly advanced biomaterials with enhanced properties.