Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Phenazine as Photocatalyst

Abstract

The features of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate involving phenazine as photocatalyst, under UV irradiation, have been investigated. It has been found that the phenazine-based compositions allow initiation of the methyl methacrylate polymerization and, in certain cases, performing it in a controlled regime. It has been shown that it is possible to prepare poly(methyl methacrylate) over sufficiently wide range of molecular mass by adjusting the composition of the phenazine + organobromine compound + tertiary amine catalytic system, the obtained polymer being prone to further modification via block copolymerization. A specific feature of the suggested catalytic compositions is the possibility of the polymer synthesis to high conversion using a low concentration of the catalyst and without prior degassing of the reaction mixture.