Open Access

ARTICLE

CuBr₂/Me₆ TREN Mediated ARGET ATRP of Methyl acrylate in Polyethylene Glycol

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1 School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, PR China.

* Corresponding Author: e-mail:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2019, 36(3), 229-241. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2019.36.03.3

Abstract

ARGET ATRP of methyl acrylate (MA) with low concentration of air stable-CuBr₂ catalyst was successfully carried out in green solvent polyethylene glycol (PEG) without any external reducing agent.The polymerizations of MA proceeded in a well-controlled manner as evidenced by kinetic studies, chain extension results, a linear increase of the molecular weights with the increasing of monomer conversion. and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n =1.1). Interestingly, we found that the PEG has the reduction ability to CuBr₂ and could play as supplement reducing agent cooperation with Me₆ TREN to mediate ARGET ATRP. Reduction of Cu(II)Br₂ to Cu(I)Br by different molecular weight PEG was proved by UV–visible spectroscopy. A.Q.-PEG with different molecular weight have strong effects on polymerization rate and the polymerization can be operated at suitable conditions where the use of catalyst concentration can decrease to 25 ppm level.

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