Sub-ppm-level organic dyes catalyzed reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) via in situ bromine-iodine exchange under LED light irradiation

A facial white light-emitting diode (LED) induced reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) of methacrylate monomers was successfully conducted by using sub-ppm-level organic dyes as organocatalysts. The organic dyes contained Eosin B (EB), Rose bengal (RB), Eosin Y (EY) and 3,3,5,5-Tetraiodophenolsulfonphthalein (TIPS) with the merits of metal free, non-toxic and inexpensive. The resulted poly (methacrylate) with controlled molecular weights and polydispersity indices were obtained either under white LED irradiation or green and blue LED. The polymerization of various functional methacrylates demonstrated that this polymerization system with dyes as organocatalysts had high monomer versatility. Chain extensions copolymerization verified the living features of reversible deactivation radical polymerization.