Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: A Robust and Versatile Route for Polymer Synthesis

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has become an established synthetic methodology to prepare polymers of high molecular weights with narrow molecular weight distributions and living polymerization characteristics. This review is a conceptual overview of ATRP and the components of an ATRP system. Current approaches to reduce the transition metal concentration are then described including activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP. Finally, a recent polymerization approach, single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP), is described.