Controlled Radical Polymerization of Ethylene Using Organotellurium Compounds

• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201709946
• Publication Date: 2017-11-16T16:56:49Z
• Authors: Yasuyuki Nakamura; Bastian Ebeling; Arne Wolpers; Vincent Monteil; Franck D'Agosto; Shigeru Yamago
• Keywords: Chain transfer; Molar mass; Raft; Fragmentation; Living free-radical polymerization

Abstract The first successfully controlled radical polymerization (CRP) of ethylene is reported using several organotellurium chain‐transfer agents (CTAs) under mild conditions (70 °C, 200 bar ethylene) within the concept organotellurium‐mediated (TERP). In contrast to preceding works on CRPs applying reversible addition–fragmentation (RAFT), TERP system provided a high livingness and chain‐end functionalization polyethylene chains. Molar‐mass distributions with dispersities between 1.3 2.1 were obtained up average molar masses 5000 g mol −1 . As in RAFT system, reactivity growing polyethylenyl led an inherent side reaction. For presented systems, however, this reaction did not result dead chains, while it could even be effectively suppressed by good choice CTA.