Free-radical polymerization of vinyl monomers using hematin as a biomimetic catalyst in place of enzyme

Abstract

This paper reports the free-radical polymerization of vinyl monomers catalyzed by hematin. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in the presence of hematin and H2O2, giving polyMMA, quantitatively. In the case of the polymerization of styrene and acrylamide, 2,4-pentanedione as a radical mediator was required in addition to hematin and H2O2. The polymerization of styrene reached an upper limit, whereas that of acrylamide proceeded in an almost quantitative conversion.