Synthesis of optical-active azo-containing acrylates using atom transfer radical polymerization under microwave irradiation

Micro-wave irradiation (MI) was applied to the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of azo-containing acrylates. The polymerization was greatly promoted and the reaction time was shortened from several days to about I h. The polymerization was well-controlled within an incipient period but it was influenced by hyperthermia effect after a certain time. The functional polymers obtained under MI process have good third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties as those of polymers obtained under CH process. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.