Copper(0)-mediated radical polymerisation in a self-generating biphasic system

• DOI: 10.1039/c2py20560b
• Publication Date: 2012-09-12T13:00:21Z
• Authors: Cyrille Boyer; Amir Atme; Christopher Waldron; Athina Anastasaki; Paul Wilson; Per B. Zetterlund; David Haddleton; Michael R. Whittaker
• Keywords: Butyl acrylate

Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of well-defined poly(n-alkyl acrylate)s via copper(0)-mediated radical polymerisation in a self-generating biphasic system. During n-butyl acrylate DMSO, polymer phase separates to yield polymer-rich layer with very low copper content (ICP-MS analysis: 0.016 wt%). The poly(n-butyl acrylate) has been characterized by range techniques, including GPC, NMR and MALDI-TOF, confirm both controlled character end group fidelity. Moreover, have successfully chain extended this system several times high conversion without intermediate purification steps. A other alkyl acrylates investigated control over is lost as hydrophobicity increases due increase length indicating that it important for monomer be soluble polar solvent.