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Fe(0) Powder/CuBr2-Mediated “Living”/Controlled Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate and Styrene at Ambient Temperature

  1. Lili Zhou,
  2. Zhengbiao Zhang*,
  3. Zhenping Cheng,
  4. Nianchen Zhou,
  5. Jian Zhu,
  6. Wei Zhang,
  7. Xiulin Zhu*

Article first published online: 9 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1002/macp.201100545

Issue

Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics

Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics

Volume 213, Issue 4, pages 439–446, February 27, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zhou, L., Zhang, Z., Cheng, Z., Zhou, N., Zhu, J., Zhang, W. and Zhu, X. (2012), Fe(0) Powder/CuBr2-Mediated “Living”/Controlled Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate and Styrene at Ambient Temperature. Macromol. Chem. Phys., 213: 439–446. doi: 10.1002/macp.201100545

Author Information

  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer, Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical, Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China

*Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer, Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical, Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 FEB 2012
  2. Article first published online: 9 FEB 2012
  3. Manuscript Revised: 27 NOV 2011
  4. Manuscript Received: 29 SEP 2011

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Keywords:

  • atom transfer radical polymerization;
  • gel permeation chromatography;
  • methyl methacrylate;
  • styrene;
  • zero-valent iron

Abstract

The combination of zero-valent iron (Fe(0) powder) and copper(II) bromide was used to mediate the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene (St) at 25 ° C. The results demonstrated that the solvent played an important role on the polymerization rate and molecular-weight control. The polymerization in toluene displayed a poorly controlled process with remarkably low polymerization rate. With dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent, the polymerization proceeded in a relatively high rate, and the number-average molecular weights were controlled especially at higher conversion. High conversions (80%) of St could be achieved with narrow molecular weight distributions in DMSO at 25 °C. It was supposed that Fe(0) played a dual role, the activator for the generation of active radical and the reducing agent for CuBr2.

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