Design of Effective Systems for Controlled Radical Polymerization of Styrene: Application of 4,4'-Dimethyl and 5,5' Dimethyl 2,2'-Bipyridine Copper(II) Complexes

Schubert, Ulrich S.; Hochwimmer, Georg; Spindler, Christian E.; Nuyken, Oskar

Abstract:

[Cu(II)(4,49-dimethyl-2,29-bipyridine)3](PF6)2 (2) and [Cu(II) (5,59-dimethyl-2,29-bipyridine) 3](PF6)2 (4) were used together with aluminium isopropoxide and (1-bromoethyl)benzene in the controlled radical polymerization of styrene resulting in polystyrenes with predetermined molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. The received polymers are colorless with a content of copper lower than 210 ppm. The substitution pattern at the bipyridine ligands has a distinct influence on the polymerization. The rate of polymerization of styrene using 2/[(CH3)2CHO]3Al/C6H5CH(CH3)Br is two times larger than utilizing 4/[(CH3)2CHO]3Al/C6H5CH(CH3)Br.

Year:

1999

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

Volume:

20

Pages:

351 – 355