Organic Catalysts for Photocontrolled Polymerizations

Photocontrolled polymerization is an emerging field of study in which catalysis with organic-based dyes has enabled the practical and inexpensive synthesis of well-defined, spatially and temporally controlled polymeric structures. Herein, we review the current progress in the development of organic catalysts for photoregulated polymerizations. In particular, we highlight advances in metal-free variants of photomediated controlled radical polymerizations. In addition, we examine how the unique properties of these catalysts allow the development of two mechanistically distinct chain-growth polymerizations controlled by light. 1 Introduction 2 Photocontrolled Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) 3 Photocontrolled Reversible Addition–Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) 4 Reversible Complexation-Mediated Polymerization (RCMP) 5 Photocontrolled Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) 6 Conclusion and Future Outlook