Synthesis of poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) obtained via ATRP using ruthenium benzylidene complexes

Abstract

Atom-Transfer Radical Copolymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) under different reaction conditions was conducted using Grubbs 1 st (1) and 2 nd (2) generation catalysts. Initially, the study focused on the reactivity of the catalysts in ATRP of EMA individually, then the syntheses of poly(MMA-co-EMA) were also conducted in different mixtures of monomers ([MMA]/[EMA] = 100/200 and [MMA]/[EMA] = 200/100). Conversion and semilogarithmic kinetic plots as a function of time were related to the different catalysts and reaction conditions. The values of M n and PDI also changed when different catalysts were used in the presence of Al(OiPr) 3 , and more controlled polymerizations were achieved using 1. In the syntheses of poly(MMA)-co-(EMA), conversion of 60% was reached for both catalysts at different [MMA]/[EMA] ratios for 16 h; however, for shorter time, 4 h, better conversion values were obtained using 1 as catalyst for both [MMA]/[EMA] = 100/200 or 200/100.