Photocontrolled Organocatalyzed Living Radical Polymerization Feasible over a Wide Range of Wavelengths.

Photocontrolled organocatalyzed living radical polymerization was conducted over a wide range of irradiation wavelengths (350-750 nm). The polymerization was induced and controlled at the desired wavelengths by exploiting suitable organic catalysts. This system was finely responsive to the irradiation wavelength; the polymerization was instantly switched on and off, and the polymerization rate was sensitively modulated by altering the irradiation wavelength.

Reversible generation of a carbon-centered radical from alkyl iodide using organic salts and their application as organic catalysts in living radical polymerization.

A new method of producing carbon-centered radicals was discovered through the reaction of an alkyl iodide (R-I) with organic salts to reversibly generate the corresponding alkyl radical (R(•)). Via this new reaction, the organic salts were used as new and highly efficient organic catalysts in living radical polymerization. The catalysts included common and inexpensive compounds such as tetrabutylammonium iodide and methyltributylphosphonium iodide.