Anthracene-based indium metal-organic framework as a promising photosensitizer for visible-light-induced atom transfer radical polymerization

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide an attractive platform for designing and synthesizing photoactive hybrid materials for photochemical reactions. We report here the utilization of a new visible-light responsive indium MOF for inducing the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methacrylate monomers, where well-designed polymers with controlled molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distribution and high retention of chain-end groups have been prepared. The kinetics study reveals that the MOF-mediated ATRP shows characteristics of controlled radical polymerization (CRP). Besides, the polymerization can be easily regulated by light. Furthermore, the heterogeneous MOF can be easily recovered from the reaction and recycled for the photopolymerization. This study has involved photoactive MOFs materials into a new photochemical reaction of polymer synthesis.