The importance of ligand reactions in Cu(0)-mediated living radical polymerisation of acrylates

Ligand mediated termination events occur during the homo-polymerisation of methyl (MA) and butyl (BA) acrylate under SET-LRP (Cu(0) mediated) conditions. Careful optimization of [initiator]/[ligand] (Me6Tren) ratios is required to reduce termination in order to achieve optimum polymerisation.