BINOLs as visible light photocatalysts for metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization†
Abstract
1,1′-Bisnaphthol (BINOL) has been successfully identified as a new organic photocatalyst framework for metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and good control over the molecular weight, narrow dispersity and high chain-end fidelity is achieved under visible light mediation. The BINOL framework shows high modifiability, which enables the tuning of its photophysical properties by introducing different substituents at the 3,3′-positions of BINOL to realize controlled/living polymerization.