Effect of Co and V complexes on polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by AlEt 2 Br‐TEMPO catalyst

2,2,6,6‐Tetramethyl piperidinoxy (TEMPO) activated with diethyl aluminum bromide was employed as an initiator system for methyl methacrylate polymerization. Effect of addition of Co(acac) 3 and VO(acac) 2 complexes to the initiators system on methyl methacrylate polymerization were studied in benzene solvent. Various reaction parameters such as Al/TEMPO, monomer concentration, reaction temperature and time applied to the polymerization were investigated. The polymer yields, molecular weight and molecular weight distributions can be controlled with the addition of Co(acac) 3 to the initiator system. PMMA's of molecular weight distributions, as low as 1.10 was obtained under relatively mild conditions, in the temperature range 40–60°C in benzene solvent. However, Co and V complexes did not influence the micro structure of the PMMA's formed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009