Anionic polymerization of alkyl methacrylates using flow microreactor systems

Living anionic polymerization of alkyl methacrylates initiated by 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium was conducted in a flow microreactor system. A high level of molecular-weight distribution control was achieved under easily accessible conditions, such as at −28 °C (MMA: Mw/Mn = 1.16), 0 °C (BuMA: Mw/Mn = 1.24) and 24 °C (ButMA: Mw/Mn = 1.12). The molecular weight (Mn) increased with an increase in the monomer/initiator ratio. The subsequent reaction of a reactive polymer chain end with a second alkyl methacrylate in integrated flow micoreactor systems led to the formation of a block copolymer having narrow molecular-weight distribution.