ZnO as photocatalyst for photoinduced electron transfer–reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer of methyl methacrylate

Abstract

Abstract In this article, photoinduced electron transfer–reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer ( PET ‐ RAFT ) polymerization of methyl methacrylate ( MMA ) was investigated at moderate temperature in N,N‐dimethylformamide with ZnO as photocatalyst. The polymerization has a living characteristic: a linear increase in molecular weight ( M n, GPC ), good agreement between experimental ( M n, GPC ) and theoretical molecular weights ( M n,th ), a decrease in molecular weight distribution ( M w / M n ) with increasing monomer conversion, and chain extension. The PET ‐ RAFT polymerization of MMA can be regulated by switching “ ON ” and “ OFF ” the light.