Reversible chain transfer catalyzed polymerization in miniemulsion systems with tetraiodomethane as a catalyst

Abstract

Reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) in aqueous miniemulsion polymerization systems is an effective strategy for the precision synthesis of various polymers in the particle state. In reversible chain transfer catalyzed polymerization (RTCP), a catalyst accelerates the chain-transfer reaction between iodide compounds and radical species. In this study, tetraiodomethane (CI₄) was used in the RTCP of methacrylate monomers in miniemulsion polymerization systems (miniemulsion RTCP). Well-controlled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was synthesized using a miniemulsion RTCP with CI₄. Nonionic and cationic surfactants were used as the stabilizers for miniemulsion RTCPs. Additionally, the degree of polymerization of PMMA was controlled by changing the molar ratio of the monomer to the chain-transfer agent. A chain-extension test indicated that the synthesized PMMA exhibited high chain-end fidelity. Furthermore, a series of experiments confirmed the effectiveness of CI₄ as a catalyst for the miniemulsion RTCP of well-defined methacrylate polymers in a particulate state using various methacrylate monomers.