Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl acrylate using AIBN as the initiator under heterogeneous conditions

Abstract

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl acrylate in the presence of a conventional radical initiator (2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile, AIBN) in bulk was successfully implemented via a new polymerization procedure. The system first reacts at 65–70°C for ten hours, then polymerizes at 100°C. Various mole ratios of AIBN to CuIICl2 were used in this work, all of which result in a well-controlled radical polymerization with high initiation efficiency and narrow molecular weight distribution, i.e., the polydispersity is as low as M̄w/M̄n = 1.36.