Application and development of novel catalysts for Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP)

本文主要介绍了原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)新型催化剂的开发和应用。ATRP是一种受控/活性自由基聚合过程，它允许合成具有预定分子量和窄分子量分布的定义明确的聚合物。这种性质的聚合过程提供了广泛的复杂聚合结构的途径，在自由基过程中是无法获得的，从星形到嵌段共聚物再到刷子。尽管ATRP已取得成功，但通过开发新的配体和表征其相应的催化剂，可以进一步改进这一过程。新的催化剂系统可能允许ATRP无法接触到的单体的受控聚合，包括乙酸乙烯酯和双烯。基础的机理研究将与各种ATRP方法进行，以探索这些新型配体的潜力和用途。

This proposal is focused on the development and application of novel catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). ATRP is a controlled/living radical polymerization process which allows the synthesis of well-defined polymers with pre-determined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Polymerization processes of this nature offer access to a broad spectrum of complex polymeric architectures, inaccessible in free radical processes, ranging from stars to block copolymers to brushes. Despite the success of ATRP, this process can be further improved by development of novel ligands and characterization of their corresponding catalysts. New catalyst systems may allow the controlled polymerization of monomers inaccessible to ATRP, including vinyl acetate, and dienes. Fundamental mechanistic studies will be carried out with various ATRP methods to investigate the potential and utility of these novel ligands.