Controlled radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers in the presence of a bis(ortho-chelated) arylnickel(II) complex and different activated alkyl halides

A novel class of homogeneous nickel(II) catalysts, i.e [Ni{o,o‘(CH2NMe2)2C6H3}Br], denoted as Ni(NCN‘)Br, is reported to mediate in the presence of activated alkyl halides, e.g., CCl4 or α-halocarbonyl compounds, a well-controlled radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers [methyl and n-butyl methacrylate), (MMA, n-BuMA)] at rather low temperatures (<100 °C). The number-average molecular weight of the polymer gradually increased with the monomer conversion and was inversely proportional to the initiator concentration of alkyl halides. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) remained very narrow during the whole course of the polymerization (MWD < 1.3). All the experimental data including a successful block copolymerization (n-BuMA-b-MMA) experiment were in agreement with a living polymerization process, and remarkably enough, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with molecular weight up to at least 105 g/mol was synthesized in a controlled fashion. Increased thermal stability of the PMMA is a further indi...