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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...
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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...
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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.
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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.
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Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
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Making ATRP More Practical: Oxygen Tolerance.

Grzegorz Szczepaniak1,2, Liye Fu1, Hossein Jafari1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.

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This summary is machine-generated.

Atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is now more accessible due to new oxygen-tolerant methods. Researchers developed enzymatic and photoinduced systems, simplifying controlled polymerization for broader applications.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a controlled polymerization technique.
  • Conventional ATRP requires strict oxygen exclusion, limiting its practical use.
  • Oxygen inhibits ATRP by quenching radicals and oxidizing the copper catalyst.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop oxygen-tolerant ATRP methods.
  • To simplify ATRP procedures for non-experts.
  • To enhance the accessibility and practicality of controlled polymerization.

Main Methods:

  • Regenerating the copper activator using reducing agents, photo-, electro-, or mechanochemical stimuli.
  • Employing enzymatic auxiliary catalytic systems (glucose oxidase, horseradish peroxidase) for deoxygenation and radical generation.
  • Developing a small-molecule-based, photoinduced ATRP system using sodium pyruvate and UV irradiation.

Main Results:

  • Enzymatic methods enable open-vessel ATRP with effective oxygen scavenging.
  • Photoinduced ATRP using sodium pyruvate offers oxygen-proof polymerization.
  • The new photoinduced system shows high control, broad solvent compatibility, and avoids enzyme purification issues.
  • Demonstrated rapid polymerization of challenging monomers like N-isopropylacrylamide.

Conclusions:

  • Developed novel strategies to overcome oxygen sensitivity in ATRP.
  • Introduced practical, user-friendly ATRP techniques.
  • Significantly advanced the field of controlled polymerization, making it more accessible.