Controlled precipitation polymerization offers a promising strategy to improve particle uniformity and functional performance of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). In this study, precipitation reversible chain transfer catalyzed polymerization (precipitation RTCP) was employed to prepare MIP particles using vitamin E ( \(\:\alpha\:\) -tocopherol) as a model template, and the results were systematically compared with those obtained from conventional radical precipitation polymerization (CRP) and iodine transfer polymerization (ITP). Methacrylic acid and divinylbenzene were used as the functional monomer and crosslinker, respectively, with iodoform and germanium(IV) iodide serving as the chain-transfer agent and catalyst, respectively. Polymerization was conducted under vacuum at 70 °C for 24 h using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The resulting MIP particles exhibited spherical morphologies, and the RTCP route led to improved particle uniformity compared with CRP and ITP, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with a size of 1.26 μm (CV: 12.32%). The RTCP-derived MIPs showed higher adsorption capacity toward vitamin E than those prepared by CRP and ITP, with a maximum binding capacity of 22 µmol g⁻¹. Scatchard analysis yielded a dissociation constant (KD) of 138.89 µmol L⁻¹, indicating favorable binding interactions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the formation of the crosslinked network and the effective removal of template molecules. Overall, precipitation RTCP offers a simple and effective approach for preparing uniform MIP particles with enhanced imprinting efficiency, without the need for post-particle modification.
