ATRP of MMA with ppm Levels of Iron Catalyst

Successful atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out with ppm amount of iron bromide at 60°C in the presence of Fe0 as supplemental activator and reducing agent in a supplemental activators and reducing agents (SARA)-ATRP or azobis(isobutyronitrile)(AIBN) as initiator in an initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR)-ATRP. A dark red stock solution of 1% Fe IIIBr3 in anisole was prepared and stored in air for use in the experiments. The molecular weight of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) prepared agreed well with theoretical values. The polymerization was also successful solely in the presence of Fe0 wire, without initially added FeIIIBr3. Because of the limited solubility of FeIIBr2 in anisole/MMA solution, the polymerization of MMA reached only 9% conversion after 48 h in the absence of TBABr with ratio of reagents. In both cases well-controlled polymerizations were achieved.