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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Photo-induced living radical polymerization of acrylates utilizing a discrete copper(II)-formate complex
Athina Anastasaki1, Vasiliki Nikolaou, Francesca Brandford-Adams
1Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL Gibbet Hill, UK. d.m.haddleton@warwick.ac.uk.
Abstract:
A photo-polymerization protocol, utilizing a pre-formed and well-characterized Cu(II) formate complex, [Cu(Me6-Tren)(O2CH)](ClO4), mediated by UV light is described. In the absence of additional reducing agents and/or photosensitizers, ppm concentrations of the oxidatively stable [Cu(Me6-Tren)(O2CH)](ClO4), furnish near-quantitative conversions within 2 h, yielding poly(acrylates) with low dispersities (∼1.10) and exceptional end-group fidelity, capable of undergoing in situ chain extension and block copolymerization.
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