Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Near-Infrared Sensitized Photoinduced Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) with a Copper(II) Catalyst
Ceren Kütahya1, Christian Schmitz1, Veronika Strehmel2
1Department of Chemistry and Institute for Coatings and Surface Chemistry, Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Adlerstrasse 1, 47798, Krefeld, Germany.
Abstract:
NIR-sensitized photoinduced atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is possible by using ppm of CuII /tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) as the catalyst, a polymethine as the photosensitizer, and α-bromophenylacetate as the alkyl halide initiator. Among the polymethines investigated with cationic, zwitterionic, or anionic structures, only the zwitterionic 2 exhibited sensitization activity under NIR light at room temperature resulting in the formation of polymers with controlled molecular weight characteristics and functionalities. The barbital group placed at the meso-position of 2 caused the activity in this photo-ATRP framework. The chain-end fidelity of the polymers was confirmed by chain extension and block copolymerization experiments. The polymerization system exhibits high photostability under NIR light exposure and irradiation dependency as demonstrated by light on/off experiments.
Related Concept Videos
Radical Reactivity: Concentration Effects
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Expressing Solution Concentration
Concentrations may be quantitatively assessed using a wide variety of measurement units, each convenient for particular applications. Molarity (M) is a useful concentration unit for many applications in chemistry.

![[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59739.jpg&w=3840&q=50)