Atom-transfer radical polymerization of acrylonitrile under microwave irradiation

A single‐pot atom‐transfer radical polymerization under microwave irradiation was first used to successfully synthesize polyacrylonitrile. This was achieved with FeBr2/isophthalic acid as the catalyst and 2‐bromopropionitrile as the initiator. With the same experimental conditions, the apparent rate constant under microwave irradiation was higher than that under conventional heating. An FeBr2/isophthalic acid ratio of 1:2 not only gave the best control of molecular weight and its distribution but also provided a rather rapid reaction rate. The polymers obtained were end‐functionalized by bromine atoms, and they were used as macroinitiators to proceed the chain extension polymerization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1382–1385, 2007