Atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a novel ionic liquid and recycling of the catalyst

With 2,2'-bipyridine as the ligand and methyl 2-bromopropionate as the initiator, the copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was first conducted in a novel ionic liquid, N-butyl-N-methyl morpholinium, tetrafluoroborate. The polymerization kinetics were confirmed to agree with the features of living/controlled free-radical polymerization. The results showed that the dosage of catalyst for well-controlled polymerization could be reduced obviously in N-butyl-N-methyl morpholinium tetrafluoroborate versus the normal organic solvent. The obtained polymers could be separated easily from the catalyst solution in the ionic liquid. Significantly, the recycled N-butyl-N-methyl morpholinium tetrafluoroborate solution of catalysts had catalytic activity similar to that of the fresh catalyst. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.