Single electron transfer-degenerative chain transfer living radical polymerization of N-butyl acrylate catalyzed by Na2S2O4 in water media

Living radical polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate was achieved by single electron transfer/degenerative‐chain transfer mediated living radical polymerization in water catalyzed by sodium dithionate. The plots of number–average molecular weight versus conversion and ln[M]0/[M] versus time are linear, indicating a controlled polymerization. This methodology leads to the preparation of α,ω‐di(iodo) poly (butyl acrylate) (α,ω‐di(iodo)PBA) macroinitiators. The influence of polymerization degree ([monomer]/[initiator]), amount of catalyst, concentration of suspending agents and temperature were studied. The molecular weight distributions were determined using a combination of three detectors (TriSEC): right‐angle light scattering (RALLS), a differential viscometer (DV), and refractive index (RI). The methodology studied in this work represents a possible route to prepare well‐tailored macromolecules made of butyl acrylate in an environmental friendly reaction medium. Moreover, such materials can be subsequently functionalized leading to the formation of different block copolymers of composition ABA. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2809–2825, 2006 SET–DTLRP of butyl acrylate (BA) initiated with iodoform (CHI3) and catalyzed by sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) in water at 35 °C produces a telechelic poly(butyl acrylate) in a broad range of molecular weight (1000–3,00,000). The α,ω‐di(iodo) poly(BA) chains ends were successfully reinitiated in water. A possible mechanism for the CH3‐initiated SET‐DTLRP of BA was suggested.