Atom transfer radical polymerization of alkyl methacrylates using T-triazine as ligand

Full Paper: A new multidentate amine ligand, 1,3,5-tris[(3-dimethylamino)pr opyl]-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (T-triazine) was developed for the atom tran sfer radical polymerization of methacrylates (dimethylaminoethyl methacryla te (DMAEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA)). It was found that with T-triazi ne as ligand, CuBr mediated a living polymerization of DMAEMA and MMA, prod ucing polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity. The DMAEMA bulk polymerization and MMA solution polymerization in THF and g amma-butyrolactone (gamma BL) followed first order kinetics with respect to the monomer. At lower temperature, both polymerizations had an induction p eriod and the induction time decreased with increasing temperature. The mea sured apparent active energy was 67.8 kJ/mol for DMAEMA polymerization. The NMR spectra confirmed that the polymerizations proceeded via an atom trans fer radical process.