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Updated: May 8, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Organotellurium-mediated living radical polymerization under photoirradiation by a low-intensity light-emitting diode
Yasuyuki Nakamura1, Shigeru Yamago
1Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasyo, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan, and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
Abstract:
A low-intensity (6 W) light-emitting diode (LED) effectively activated an organotellurium chain transfer agent and the dormant species, promoting well-controlled radical polymerization. The use of the LED provided many advantages over the previously reported high-intensity Hg lamp, including high energy efficiency during the polymerization, and easy availability of the low-cost light source. Structurally well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), and polystyrene, with narrow molecular weight distributions, were synthesized under LED irradiation with or without a neutral density filter.
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