Effect of amines on the controlled synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) catalyzed by ruthenacarboranes

The effects of amines on the activity of ruthenium catalysts in the controlled synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) are reported at 80°C. The introduction of tert-butylamine or triethylamine into the polymerization system raises the polymerization rate by 1–2 orders of magnitude without reducing the high degree of control over the chain propagation step. The “living” character of methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of ruthenacarboranes and amines is proved by the fact that, as the monomer conversion increases, the molecular weight of the resulting polymer increases linearly and the polydispersity index decreases. The polymer can serve as a macroinitiator for postpolymerization and block copolymer synthesis.