Synthesis of optical-active azo-containing acrylates using atom transfer radical polymerization under microwave irradiation

Microwave irradiation (MI) was applied to the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of azo-containing acrylates. The polymerization was greatly promoted and the reaction time was shortened from several days to about 1 h. The polymerization was well-controlled within an incipient period but it was influenced by “hyperthermia effect” after a certain time. The functional polymers obtained under MI process have good third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties as those of polymers obtained under CH process.