Atom transfer radical polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate in aqueous media

2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was polymerized by aqueous atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with CuBr/2,2′-bipyridine (Bpy) as a catalyst and methyl α-bromophenylacetate (MBP) as an initiator at room temperature. The resulting poly(DMAEMA) gave a linear molecular weight/conversion relationship and a narrow molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ∼ 1.2). Six initiators and two ligands were screened, and MBP/Bpy was the best for the ATRP of DMAEMA in water.