Atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate catalyzed by IronII chloride/isophthalic acid system

Iron(II) chloride coordinated by isophthalic acid was successfully used as the catalyst in ethyl 2-bromopropionate initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA). The polymerization was controlled up to a molecular weight of 50 000. N,N-Dimethylformamide was used to improve the solubility of the ligand. However, the amount of N,N-dimethylformamide has no significant effect on the living nature of the polymerization. Chain extension was performed to confirm the 'living/controlled nature of the polymerization system. The effect of various ratios of iron(II) chloride to ligand on the polymerization was investigated, and the initiator efficiency reached 0.82 when the ratio of transition metal to ligand was equal to 0.5 in,DMF. The ready availability and nontoxicity of isophthalic acid makes it very attractive as a new ligand in iron-mediated ATRP.