An old kinetic method for a new polymerization mechanism: Toward photochemically mediated ATRP

With the idea of an old method for a new mechanism, a detailed kinetic insight into photochemically mediated atom-transfer radical polymerization (photo ATRP) was presented through a validated comprehensive model. The simulation mimics the experimental results of the model system using optimized photochemically mediated radical generation rate coefficients. The activator and radical (re)generated from the photo mediated reactions endow the photo ATRP with unique features, such as rapid ATRP equilibrium and quick consumption of initiator with a small amount of residual. The effect of the reaction parameters on ATRP behaviors was also investigated. Results showed that the acceleration of polymerization rate follows the square root law in the following three cases: the overall photochemically mediated radical generation rate coefficients (k(r)), the free ligand concentration, and the initiator concentration. However, the independence of the apparent propagation rate coefficient (k(p)(app)) on the square root of catalyst concentration might be attributed to the result of the synergy between the activators regenerated by electron-transfer ATRP and the initiators for continuous activator regeneration ATRP mechanism. The photo ATRP is able to design and prepare various polymers by carefully tuning the conditions using the model-based optimization approach. (c) 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1947-1958, 2015