Application and modification of cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(o-C6H4-2-C5H4N)(MeCN)(4)]PF6 for atom transfer radical polymerization

摘要

Polymerizations of n-butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) were promoted by the Ru(II) cyclometalated complex with labile MeCN ligand in the presence of AI(OiPr)(3). The polymerization proceeds via radical mechanism and requires the loss of MeCN ligand. The poor control over the polymerizations can be explained in terms of the traditional ATRP scheme. However, the controllability may be significantly improved by addition of reducing SnCl2. Mechanism of the process is proposed.