Dimethyl Dihydroacridines as Photocatalysts in Organocatalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Acrylate Monomers.

ABSTRACT: Development of photocatalysts (PCs) with diverse properties has been essential in the advancement of organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP). Dimethyl dihydroacridines are presented here as a new family of organic PCs, for the first time enabling controlled polymerization of challenging acrylate monomers by O-ATRP. Structure-property relationships for seven PCs are established, demonstrating tunable photochemical and electrochemical properties, and accessing a strongly oxidizing ² PC^.+ intermediate for efficient deactivation. In O-ATRP, the combination of PC, implementation of continuous-flow reactors, and promotion of deactivation through addition of LiBr are critical to producing well-defined acrylate polymers with dispersities as low as 1.12. The utility of this approach is established through demonstration of the oxygen-tolerance of the system and application to diverse acrylate monomers, including the synthesis of well-defined di- and triblock copolymers.

SUBMITTER: Buss BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7012661 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature