Atom transfer radical polymerization of methylmethacrylate mediated by a naphtyl–nickel(II) phosphane complex

The ATRP polymerization of styrene, p-chlorostyrene and methylmethacrylate (MMA) in the presence of the trans-chloro(naphtyl)bis(triphenylphosphane)nickel(II) complex was investigated. The polymerization of MMA is well controlled as witnessed by the narrow average molecular weight distribution of the polymer products and the linear increase of the Mn values vs. polymerization time. NMR analysis of the polymer chain ends confirmed that the ATRP mechanism is operative in the controlled polymerization of this monomer.