Patent ID: 7402632

Claim:
A process for increasing the molecular weight of polyacrylates, wherein polyacrylates functionalized at least on some of their chain ends by functional groups X are prepared by the RAFT process using thiocarbonates selected from the group consisting of wherein Φ represents a phenyl ring, which is unfunctionalized or functionalized by alkyl or aryl substituents linked directly or via ester or ether bridges, or represents a cyano group and k represents C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycle and optionally contains one or more groups selected from the group consisting of —NH 2 , —NH—R VI , —NR VI R VII , —NH—C(O)—R VI , —NR VI —C(O)—R VII , —NH—C(S)—R VI , —NR VI —C(S)—R VII , where R VI and R VII are C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycles, and are independent of one another or the same, and are then reacted with at least one compound containing at least two functional groups Y capable of entering into linking reactions, in the form of addition reactions, with the functional groups X.