The Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Lauryl Acrylate

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of dodecyl (or lauryl) acrylate (LA) has been studied and optimized to yield polymers with predetermined molecular weights and low polydispersities. The poor solubility of the catalyst complex formed with linear tridentate amines and Cu(I)Br in both LA and the non-polar solvents required for the formed poly(lauryl acrylate) (pLA) resulted in poor control of the polymer molecular weights and high polydispersity. The use of a soluble catalyst formed by complexing copper with 4,4′-di(5-nonyl)-2,2′-bipyridine, improved both molecular weight control and polydispersities. The experimental conditions were further optimized by adding deactivating Cu(II) complex to the initial reaction mixture to compensate qualitatively for differences in the rate of termination relative to other acrylates.