Conventional free radical polymerization in room temperature ionic liquids: a green approach to commodity polymers with practical advantages.
Free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene using conventional organic initiators in the room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4mim][PF6]) is rapid and produces polymers with molecular weights up to 10x higher than from benzene; both polymerization and isolation of products were achieved without using VOCs, offering economic as well as environmental advantages.
Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Kunlun
K
Hong
Hongwei
H
Zhang
Jimmy W
JW
Mays
Ann E
AE
Visser
Christopher S
CS
Brazel
John D
JD
Holbrey
W Matthew
WM
Reichert
Robin D
RD
Rogers
D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents; D020058:Styrene / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
C412621:1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate; D005609:Free Radicals; D007093:Imidazoles; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D020058:Styrene; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide