Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene catalyzed by copper carboxylate complexes

Abstract

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene has been studied using complexes of copper carboxylates. Compared with systems employing copper halides as the catalyst, the use of the copper carboxylates resulted in faster polymerization rates and higher polydispersities. A ligand (dNbpy) to Cu(I) carboxylate ratio of 1 was sufficient to achieve the maximum rate of polymerization. The addition of a small amount of either Cu(II) or Cu(I) halide to the copper carboxylate system yielded polymers with better controlled molecular weights and lower polydispersities yet the polymerization still remained relatively fast.