Reverse atom-transfer radical polymerization at room temperature

This paper aims at reporting on the "living"/controlled radical polymerizat ion of methyl methacrylate initiated with the benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/ (CuX) -X-I (X=Br,Cl)/2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) redox system at room temperature. No c ontrol is observed for the polymerization conducted in bulk and in toluene, whereas a polymer with predetermined molecular weight and rather narrow mo lecular weight distribution is formed in butanone. The solvent has thus a d ecisive effect on the reserve atom-transfer radical polymerization of methy l methacrylate initiated with the BPO/(CuX)-X-I (X=Br,Cl)/byp ternary syste m at 25 degreesC.