Abstract
ABSTRACT Pyridyl-imine copper complexes, mesoporous silicate with CuO, and metal wire complexes have been applied to atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Two pyridyl-imine based copper complexes, CuII(paenMe2)Br2 and CuII(paenEt2)Br2, were used to mediate the normal, AGET (activators generated by electron transfer), and SARA (supplemental activator and reducing agent) ATRP of styrene. The polymeric products showed a low polydispersity (Mw/Mn = 1.16 ~ 1.28) and the molecular weight matched the theoretical values. The CuO on mesoporous silicate attached on the surface was also applied to normal, AGET, and ICAR (initiators for continuous activator regeneration) ATRP of methyl methacrylate. The silicate particles could simplify the purification of polymeric products. Silicate with CuO could mediate AGET ATRP but released the copper ions. On the other hand, silicate with CuO was possibly involved in the reaction of ICAR ATRP without desorption of copper ions but only limited living characters were obtained. ICAR ATRP of methacrylate mediated by metal wire complexes, [CuNiCu(dpa)4]Cl2, [CuNi2(dpa)4]Cl2, and [Cu3(dpa)4]Cl2, didn’t show the control properties. In [Cu3(dpa)4]Br2 mediated ICAR ATRP of methacrylate and styrene, the catalyst seem to be decomposed and increased of molecular weight with conversion, were observed during the slower polymerization.