Synthesis of imidazole end-capped poly(n-butyl methacrylate)s via atom transfer radical polymerization with a new functional initiator containing imidazolium group

Abstract

The synthesis of imidazole end-capped poly(n-butyl methacrylate)s via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is reported. n-Butyl methacrylate (n-BMA) was polymerized in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) at different temperatures via ATRP using a new N-heterocyclic functional initiator (1-α- bromoisobutylimidazole, BrBI) in the presence of CuBr/2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) as the catalyst. With this new initiating system, a successful ATRP of n-BMA was carried out, and imidazole end-capped polymers with predetermined molecular weights and low polydispersities (1.1