The synthesis of copolymer-Cu coordinates and its catalysis to methyl methacrylate

The copolymerization of methacrylic acid, 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl ester (DM), and allythiourea (AT) was studied under microwave, and the copolymer–copper coordinates Cu-P(DM-Co-AT) was synthesized by the coordination between Cu2+ and the copolymer. IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electronic spin resonance were used to analyze the structure of Cu-P(DM-Co-AT). The results showed that the inherent viscosity of the copolymer obtained by microwave irradiation can be the maximum of 37.75 ml/g, and the productive rate can be 92%. The obtained Cu-P(DM-Co-AT) can heterogeneously catalyze the polymerization of methyl methacrylate at room temperature. The maximal molecular weight of poly(methyl methacrylate) was 1,400,000. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2072–2075, 2005