Controlled /"Living"Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Catalyzed by Benzyl Chloride/Iron Dichloride Tetrahydrate/Triphenyl Phosphine

Controlled/"living" radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by benzyl chloride has been achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) catalyzed by iron dichloride tetrahydrate/triphenyl phosphine complexes at 90 ℃. When the amount of Fe to P is kept at 1∶2, the polymer number average molecular weight ( M n) increases linearly with conversion, and then the polymerization can be kept controlled and "living". If the amount of Fe to P is not kept at 1∶2, the linear relation of M n to conversion does not exist, thus many active centers in the polymerization can form themselves. At the same time, methods of synthesis of iron based catalysts have marked effects upon the ATRP of MMA.