Visible Light Photoiniferter Polymerization for the Synthesis of Degradable Lipoate Copolymers

The development of efficient and controlled polymerization techniques to synthesize degradable polymers is crucial for advancing sustainable plastics. We report a mild and highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of degradable copolymers via visible light-mediated photoiniferter polymerization. Using a commercially available dithiocarbamate compound as a photoiniferter, we achieved the rapid copolymerization of a lipoic acid derivative with various acrylate and acrylamide monomers under benign blue light irradiation (462 nm) at 40 °C. This method provides exceptional temporal control and yields well-defined copolymers with predictable molecular weights, low dispersities, and tunable disulfide content. The resulting copolymers undergo efficient degradation to low molecular weight oligomers through air oxidation or dithiothreitol reduction. This photoiniferter approach establishes a versatile and sustainable platform for the precise synthesis of degradable polymers from renewable sources and commercially accessible monomers.