Recent mechanistic developments in atom transfer radical polymerization

Recent mechanistic innovations concerning catalyst development in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) are described. The following topics will be discussed: structure–reactivity relationships of the polymerization catalyst, including correlating reaction parameters with catalyst, alkyl halide, and monomer structure; concurrent reactions that may occur during ATRP and will affect its efficiency, including oxidation/reduction of radicals to radical cations/anions, solvent, monomer, and radical coordination to the active catalyst, and side reactions particular to aqueous media. In addition, novel methods of fine tuning initiation, activation, and deactivation processes, including simultaneous reverse and normal initiation ATRP, activators generated by electron transfer ATRP, hybrid catalyst systems, and bimetallic ATRP will be presented.

Recent mechanistic innovations concerning catalyst development in ATRP are discussed and include the finer components of the ATRP equilibrium, concurrent reactions that may occur during ATRP and will affect its efficiency, and novel methods for fine tuning catalyst systems to alleviate handling problems and enhance efficiency.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide