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Visible Light Induced RAFT Polymerization of 2‐Vinylpyridine without Exogenous Initiators or Photocatalysts
Author(s) -
Luo Juxiang,
Li Mingchun,
Xin Meihua,
Sun Weifu,
Xiao Wangchuan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201600141
Subject(s) - chain transfer , polymerization , dispersity , photochemistry , raft , chemistry , polymer chemistry , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , visible spectrum , radical polymerization , materials science , polymer , organic chemistry , optoelectronics
The controlled radical polymerization of 2‐vinylpyridine is reported using commercial blue light‐emitting diodes as visible light source in the presence of S‐1‐dodecyl‐S′‐(α,α′‐dimethyl‐α″‐aceticacid) trithiocarbonate without exogenous initiators or photocatalysts. With this system, poly(2‐vinylpyridine) with well‐regulated molecular weight and narrow dispersity ( Đ ) ( Đ = 1.13) and a conversion efficiency of 84.9% is obtained after 9 h irradiation. The polymerization can be instantly switch “on” or “off” in response to visible light while maintaining a linear increase in molecular weight with conversion and first order kinetics. These results demonstrate the simplicity and efficiency of the photocatalysts‐free, visible light mediated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization as a platform to achieve well‐defined poly(2‐vinylpyridine) under mild conditions.