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 (Mn,GPC = 24 500 g mol−1, Mw/Mn = 1.36).