Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Active in Sleep: Iron Guanidine Catalyst Performs ROP on Dormant Side of ATRP
Ruth D Rittinghaus1, Aylin Karabulut1, Alexander Hoffmann1
1Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1a, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Abstract:
Copolymers are the answer to property limitations of homopolymers. In order to use the full variety of monomers available, catalysts active in more than one polymerization mechanism are currently investigated. Iron guanidine catalysts have shown to be extraordinarily active in ROP of lactide and herein prove their versatility by also promoting ATRP of styrene. The presented iron complex is the first polymerizing lactide and styrene simultaneously to a defined block copolymer in a convenient one-pot synthesis. Both mechanisms work hand in hand with ROP using the dominantly present FeII species on the dormant side of the ATRP equilibrium. This orthogonal copolymerization by a benign iron catalyst opens up new pathways to biocompatible polymerization procedures broadening the scope of ATRP applications.
More Related Videos
06:49Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
07:28Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: November 27, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism