Favorable hydrogen bonding in room-temperature Cu(0)-mediated controlled radical polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine

This communication describes the first example of hydrogen bonding facilitating the control of the polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP). Well-controlled P4VP has been successfully achieved via zero-valent copper mediated radical polymerization without any additional ligand by utilizing a fluoroalcohol, HFIP, as a solvent, which can strongly interact with 4VP by hydrogen bonding.