Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Impacts of Performing Electrolysis During Organocatalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Daniel A Corbin1, Blaine G McCarthy1, Garret M Miyake1
1Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1872, USA.
Abstract:
An electrochemical variant of organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) is developed and investigated. Inspired by electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP), potentiostatic electrolysis is used to manipulate the catalyst's redox states in O-ATRP to understand whether deactivation in O-ATRP can be enhanced to improve polymerization control. During the course of this work, several possible side reactions are investigated, and the electrochemical apparatus is optimized to reduce side reactions at the counter electrode. This electrochemically modified O-ATRP method (eO-ATRP) is then studied at different applied potentials, under different irradiation conditions, and with two photoredox catalysts to understand the impact of electrolysis on polymerization control. Ultimately, although electrolysis was successfully used to improve polymerization control in O-ATRP, some additional challenges have been identified. Several key questions are postulated to guide future work in this area.
Related Concept Videos
Radical Reactivity: Intramolecular vs Intermolecular
Radical Reactivity: Concentration Effects
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Reactivity: Overview
Radical Reactivity: Electrophilic Radicals

