title: Copper(0)-Mediated Living Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in a Non-polar Solvent.
abstract: The metal catalyzed polymerization of methyl methacrylate using Cu(0) as the catalyst source has been investigated in toluene. This work looks at polymerizations in a non-polar medium allowing control over the molecular weight and polydispersity with a 4-fold reduction in catalyst concentration versus conventional ATRP, while the use of an active ligand allows the reaction to proceed at room temperature. The use of an excess of PMDETA ligand allows for high conversions, and the addition of a small amount of CuBr(2) enhances living characteristics, enabling efficient chain extension.
authors.affiliation: Key Centre of Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, Building F11, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hornby
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Jessica C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tom
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Waterson
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrisson
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrier