Homogeneous Solution Reverse Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

A homogeneous reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was successfully carried out in N, N-dimethylformamide(DMF) (25%, v/v) at 69°C, using an initiating system azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN)/CuBr₂/N, N, N′, N″, N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA). The kinetics of homogeneous solution polymerizations showed linear first-order rate plots, indicating a constant number of growing species throughout the polymerization as well as a negligible contribution of termination or transfer reactions; a linear increase of the number-average molecular weight with conversion, and relatively low polydispersities, but low initiator efficiency. The dependence of the rate of polymerization on the concentrations of initiator, catalyst, ligand and temperature were presented.