AGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as solvent and TMEDA as both ligand and reducing agent

Activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in inexpensive, non-toxic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), with air-stable Cu(II)X₂(X = Br, Cl) as the catalyst and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as both ligand and reducing agent was investigated. The polymerizations in PEG proceeded in a well-controlled manner as evidenced by kinetic studies and chain extension results. The polydispersity of the polymer obtained was quite narrow, with a weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ratio of less than 1.2. Effects of the TMEDA content and the catalysts on polymerization were also investigated, respectively.