Practical Chain-End Reduction of Polymers Obtained with ATRP

A practical and user-friendly strategy for the chain-end reduction of halogen terminated polymers that employs hydrogen gas and heterogeneous catalysis (palladium on carbon) is reported. Quantitative dehalogenation of a wide variety of monomer families (polystyrenes, polyacrylates, and polymethacrylates) with either chlorine or bromine chain-ends is observed. The utility of this chain-end reduction is further highlighted by mild reaction conditions, simple purification, and compatibility with a wide range of solvents.