Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
07:28
Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: November 27, 2015
Organocatalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: Perspectives on Catalyst Design and Performance
Jordan C Theriot1, Blaine G McCarthy1, Chern-Hooi Lim1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, United States.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|April 4, 2017
Summary
Organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) is a new controlled polymerization method. This study analyzes photoredox catalysts used in O-ATRP, offering design principles for improved catalyst performance.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Organic Catalysis
- Photoredox Catalysis
Background:
- Controlled radical polymerization is crucial for advanced materials.
- Organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) has emerged as a powerful technique.
- Photoredox catalysts play a key role in O-ATRP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the mechanism of O-ATRP.
- To review different classes of photoredox catalysts used in O-ATRP.
- To establish design principles for effective O-ATRP catalysts.
Main Methods:
- Mechanistic analysis of O-ATRP.
- Review of existing literature on photoredox catalysts in O-ATRP.
- Discussion of catalyst properties and polymerization behavior.
Main Results:
- Identified key photophysical and chemical properties influencing catalyst performance.
- Highlighted the roles and distinct properties of various O-ATRP catalyst classes.
- Proposed design principles for O-ATRP catalysts.
Conclusions:
- O-ATRP represents a significant advancement in controlled polymerization.
- Understanding catalyst properties is essential for optimizing O-ATRP.
- Further improvements in O-ATRP are expected to broaden its applications.
Keywords:
atom transfer radical polymerizationintramolecular charge transferorganocatalysisphotochemistryphotoredox catalysisMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:35Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
01:11Radical Reactivity: Overview
Radicals, the highly reactive species, gain stability by undergoing three different reactions. The first reaction involves a radical-radical coupling, in which a radical combines with another radical, forming a spin‐paired molecule. The second reaction is between a radical and a spin‐paired molecule, generating a new radical and a new spin‐paired molecule. The third reaction is radical decomposition in a unimolecular reaction, forming a new radical and a spin‐paired molecule. These three...
01:33Radical Reactivity: Intramolecular vs Intermolecular
Radical reactions can occur either intermolecularly or intramolecularly. In an intermolecular radical reaction, a nucleophilic radical adds to an electrophilic alkene or vice versa. In such reactions, the radical and generally the alkene, which is also called the radical trap, are two different molecules. Additionally, for such intermolecular reactions to occur, the radical trap must be active, present in an excess concentration, and the radical starting material must have a weak carbon–halogen...
01:10Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
01:09Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this species into the...
01:13Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...