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Related Concept Videos

Radical Autoxidation01:20

Radical Autoxidation

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The oxidation of an organic compound in the presence of air or oxygen is called autoxidation. For example, cumene reacts with oxygen to form hydroperoxide. Autoxidation involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Many organic compounds are susceptible to autoxidation—especially ethers in the presence of oxygen, which form hydroperoxides. Even though this reaction is slow, old ether bottles contain small amounts of peroxide, which leads to laboratory explosions during ether...
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Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

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Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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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Radical Reactivity: Overview01:11

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2.0K
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...
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Radical Formation: Overview01:03

Radical Formation: Overview

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A bond can be broken either by heterolytic bond cleavage to form ions or homolytic bond cleavage to yield radicals. A fishhook arrow is used to represent the motion of a single electron in homolytic bond cleavage. There are two main sources from which radicals can be formed:
Radicals from spin-paired molecules:
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Radical Formation: Homolysis00:54

Radical Formation: Homolysis

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A bond is formed between two atoms by sharing two electrons. When this bond is broken by supplying sufficient energy, either two electrons can be taken up by one atom forming ions by the cleavage called heterolysis, or the two electrons are shared by two atoms, with one each creating radicals by the cleavage called homolysis.
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Updated: May 26, 2025

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
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Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

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Oxygen-Tolerant ATRP Depolymerization Enabled by an External Radical Source.

Stella Afroditi Mountaki1, Richard Whitfield1, Athina Anastasaki1

  • 1Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|February 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces an open-vessel, oxygen-tolerant depolymerization method for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) polymers. The process efficiently regenerates over 90% of the pristine monomer, overcoming limitations of previous recycling techniques.

Keywords:
chemical recyclingdepolymerizationoxygen‐tolerantradical initiator

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Sustainable Materials
  • Chemical Recycling

Background:

  • Chemical recycling of polymers via controlled radical polymerization typically requires strictly anaerobic conditions.
  • Existing oxygen-tolerant depolymerization methods are often limited by the need for boiling co-solvents, closed vessels, or result in low monomer recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop an efficient, open-vessel, oxygen-tolerant depolymerization method for polymers synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).
  • To achieve high monomer regeneration percentages compatible with various solvents and ligands.

Main Methods:

  • Depolymerization of ATRP-synthesized polymers in an open-vessel system under oxygen-tolerant conditions.
  • Oxygen removal strategies included high catalyst loadings or lower catalyst loadings with a radical initiator.
  • Compatibility testing with various solvents (anisole, TCB, DCB) and ligands (Me6TREN, TPMA, TREN, PMDETA).

Main Results:

  • Achieved high monomer regeneration efficiency (>90% depolymerization).
  • Demonstrated successful depolymerization in the presence of dissolved oxygen without specialized equipment.
  • Confirmed compatibility with a wide range of common solvents and ligands, including cost-effective alternatives.

Conclusions:

  • The developed method offers a practical and efficient approach for the chemical recycling of ATRP polymers.
  • This advancement overcomes the limitations of anaerobic conditions and expands the scope of recyclable polymers.
  • The compatibility with diverse solvents and ligands enhances the method's applicability and economic viability.