Living radical polymerization of activated and nonactivated monomers containing electron-withdrawing side groups

摘要

The invention concerns a method of polymerizing an alkene monomer to produce a polymer using a catalyst that is Cu(O), Cu₂Te, CuSe, Cu₂S, Cu₂O, or a combination thereof, an initiator, and a component comprising a solvent and optional nitrogen-containing ligand, where the combination of the component and monomer is capable of diproportionating Cu(I)X into Cu(O) and Cu(II)X₂ where X is Cl, Br, or I.