Atom transfer radical polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been successfully carried o ut in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) for the polymerization of fluo rinated (meth)acrylates. In particular, well-controlled polymerizations hav e been obtained with the use of a fluoroalkyl-substituted 2,2'-bipyridine l igand. Block copolymers comprised of fluorinated (meth)acrylates and poly(M MA) (MMA = methyl methacrylate) or poly(DMAEMA) (DMAEMA = 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) were produced in scCO(2) by ATRP. In addition, the disp ersion polymerization of MMA using ATRP in scCO(2) in the presence of a flu orinated polymeric surfactant stabilizer was successfully carried out to yi eld poly(MMA) latex particles with controlled molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution.