INVESTIGATION OF THE ATRP OF n-BUTYL METHACRYLATE USING THE Cu（I）／N,N,N＇ N＂ N＂-PENTAMETHYLDIETHYLENETRIAMINE CATALYST SYSTEM

The polymerization of n-butyl methacrylate was investigated using the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization technique with CuBr and CuCl/N,N,N‘,N“,N“-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine catalytic systems. Various combinations of catalyst systems and initiators were utilized in order to optimize the polymerization conditions and to obtain well-defined polymers (i.e. controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities). It has been found that the optimal initiator for this system is a chlorine-based initiator, when the catalyst used is a Cu(I) salt in conjunction with the N,N,N‘,N“,N“-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine ligand. Bromine-based initiators tend to result in large amounts of initial termination, leading to polymers with less than ideal chain end functionality, even if CuCI is used as the Cu(I) species to invoke the halogen exchange. Additionally, the effects of the polymerization temperature, copper(I) species and the initiator structure were determined.     

INVESTIGATION OF THE ATRP OF n-BUTYL METHACRYLATE USING THE Cu(I)/N,N,N'''',N",N"-PENTAMETHYLDIETHYLENETRIAMINE CATALYST SYSTEM

INTRODUCTIONThe atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has become an important method for preparing well-definedmacromolecules. This technique offers control over the molecular weights, the chain end functionalities, and thechain architectures[1-12]. It has been used extensively for the preparation of homopolymers, block, and randomcopolymers[13-39], for the preparation of organic/inorganic hybrid materials[40-54], as well as for combining variousother living polymerization methods …     

INVESTIGATION OF THE ATRP OF n-BUTYL METHACRYLATE USING THE Cu(I)/N,N,N′,N″,N″-PENTAMETHYLDIETHYLENETRIAMINE CATALYST SYSTEM

The polymerization of n-butyl methacrylate was investigated using the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization technique with CuBr and CuCl/N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine catalytic systems. Various combinations of catalyst systems and initiators were utilized in order to optimize the polymerization conditions and to obtain well-defined polymers (i.e. controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities). It has been found that the optimal initiator for this system is a chlorine-based initiator, when the catalyst used is a Cu(I) salt in conjunction with the N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine ligand. Bromine-based initiators tend to result in large amounts of initial termination, leading to polymers with less than ideal chain end functionality, even if CuCl is used as the Cu(I) species to invoke the halogen exchange. Additionally, the effects of the polymerization temperature, copper(1) species and the initiator structure were determined.