AbstractA novel dithioester, bearing anthracene as Z group, benzyl anthracene-10-carbodithioate (BAC) was successfully synthesized and used as the RAFT agent for the RAFT polymerizations of styrene (St). The results indicated that the polymerization presented the characteristics of “living”/controlled radical polymerization. 1H NMR characterization of obtained polystyrene confirmed that most of the polymer chains were end-capped by the anthracene moiety. The successful chain extension experiment further demonstrated the “living” character of the polymer. The fluorescence investigation of the polymers contained an anthrancene moiety of BAC in the chain end expressed enhanced fluorescence property than that of BAC in CHCl3 solution.