Salts of Organic Acids as Reducing Agents in Atom Transfer Controlled Radical Polymerization

Novel catalytic systems based on complexes of copper(II) bromide with polydentate nitrogen-containing ligands, tris[(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine and tris[(2-dimethylamino)ethyl]amine, and salts of organic acids (Rochelle salt, sodium oxalate, sodium lactate, and sodium pyruvate) acting as catalyst regenerating agents have been developed for the radical polymerization of acrylonitrile. It has been shown that the polymerization of acrylonitrile carried out in the presence of these systems and halogen-containing initiators occurs by the atom transfer mechanism, affording polymers with target molecular weight values. Effect of the nature of reducing agent and initiator on the process of polymerization and the degree of control over molecular weight characteristics of the resulting samples has been studied. It has been found that Rochelle salt and sodium oxalate are the most efficient reducing agents allowing for a high rate of polymerization while maintaining control over the process.