Copper(i) mediated living radical polymerisation in an ionic liquid

Abstract

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, a room temperature ionic liquid, has been used as solvent for the copper(I) mediated living radical polymerisation of methyl methacrylate; the rate of reaction is enhanced and narrow polydispersity polymers are obtained which are easily isolated from the catalyst.