Preparation of polyacrylonitrile via AGET ATRP initiated by CCl4

A commercially available alkyl halide carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used as the initiator for activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) of acrylonitrile (AN) in N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF). Environmentally benign ascorbic acid (VC) was chosen as the reducing agent and copper bromide (CuBr2) as the catalyst precursor together with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) as the ligand. The polymerization proceeded in a controlled manner as evidenced by kinetic of AGET ATRP of AN, a linear increase of number-average molecular weight (M-n) with monomer conversion and low polydispersity index (PDI) throughout the reactions. The monomer (AN) conversion increased with the increase of VC and CCl4. The value of PDI increased with the increase in concentration of VC. For an increase of CCl4, the value of PDI decreased first and then increased. H-1-NMR spectrum of PAN further confirmed the "living"/controlled feature of AGET ATRP of AN.