A highly active homogeneous ICAR ATRP of methyl methacrylate using ppm levels of organocopper catalyst

Abstract

A highly active homogeneous bulk initiators for continuous activator regeneration atom transfer radical polymerization (ICAR ATRP) of MMA using ppm levels of organocopper catalyst Cu(SC(S)N(C₄H₉)₂)₂ or Cu(SeC(Se)N(C₄H₉)₂)₂ was carried out successfully for the first time. For example, even though the catalyst concentration was decreased to 1.9 ppm, the polymerization with the molar ratio of [MMA]₀ : [ATRP initiator]₀ : [Cu(SC(S)N(C₄H₉)₂)₂]₀ : [PMDETA]₀ : [AIBN]₀ = 500 : 1 : 0.0015 : 0.1 : 0.2 could be carried out at 65 °C with 44.6% monomer conversion in 290 min; at the same time, the number average molecular weight of the resultant PMMA was close to its theoretical value with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_n,GPC = 24 500 g mol⁻¹, M_w/M_n = 1.36).