1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as ligand for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)

1,8-Diazabicyclo5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) has been used as a bidentate ligand of copper (I) bromide for the ATRP of (meth)acrylates and styrene. With methyl methacrylate, the polymerization reached high conversions producing polymers with a good control of Mn and low polydispersity indexes (PDI = 1.19). Higher PDI were obtained with polystyrenes and poly(methyl acrylate)s. These results have been correlated to the redox properties of the catalytic complex.