Effect of water on copper mediated living radical polymerization

The use of water as a solvent for copper mediated living radical polymerization has been further investigated. Optimal conditions for effective living radical polymerization using catalyst complexes based on CuBr and N-(n-alkyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine ligands were found, leading to well defined polymer structures. The effect of water on the rate of polymerization was studied, and it was found that competitive complexation of ligand and water occurs at copper in addition to an enhanced polymerization rate on increasing the polarity of the medium.