Homogeneous Fe-Mediated AGET ATRP of Methyl Methacrylate in PEG-400 in the Presence of Na2CO3

The activator generated by electron transfer (AGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was successfully carried out in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-400) with CCl4/FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O/N,N,N ',N '-tetramethyl-1,2-ethanediamine (TMEDA) as the initiating system in the presence of Na2CO3. The living nature of the polymerization was confirmed by kinetic studies, end-group analysis and chain extension. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer obtained was quite narrow (MWD = 1.10-1.40). The effects of ligand and temperature on polymerization were investigated. Based on the slope of the plot of ln (kapp) vs. (1/T), the apparent activation energy (E-app) of 34.1 kJ mol(-1) was calculated. The recovering and recycling of PEG-400 were first investigated. After the polymerization and isolation of PMMA, the mixture containing catalysts and PEG-400 was shown to be recoverable and recyclable without further treatment.