ATRP catalysed by ruthenacarboranes for successful synthesis of random and block-copolymers based on methacrylic monomers

The poly(methyl methacrylate) - based macroinitiator was successfully chain extended by isobornyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and tert.-butyl methacrylate giving corresponding block-copolymers using catalytic system based on ruthenium carborane complex and isopropylamine. The polymerization proceeded smoothly in accordance with atom transfer radical polymerization mechanism giving polymers with predetermined molecular weights. A random copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate and tert.-butyl methacrylate was conducted using the same catalytic system. The measured glass transitions of obtained samples indicate dependences between polymer structure, composition and its properties.