Photoirradiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with an Alkyl Dithiocarbamate at Ambient Temperature

Photoirradiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with an alkyl dithiocarbamate at ambient temperature was studied. ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with 2-(N,Ndiethyldithiocarbamyl) isobutyric acid ethyl ester (EMADC) and a copper complex was performed under UV irradiation. Similar rate of polymerization is observed for UV-induced ATRP with 0.5, 1, and 2 equivalent of copper complex compared to initiator. After 6 h polymerization, a chain extended PMMA with little tailing in the low-MW region is obtained at 17.7% conversion. Well-controlled polymerization of MMA is achieved using a copper catalyst and DC initiator under UV irradiation at ambient temperature. Peak deconvolution indicate 5% dead chains in the PMMA-dithiocarbamate (DC) macroinitiator, demonstrating a maintained DC groups at the PMMA chain ends.