Facile iron-mediated AGET ATRP for water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate in water.

An environmentally friendly iron catalyst system was successfully developed in water for the AGET ATRP (activator generated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization) of water-soluble monomer poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) for the first time. A kinetic study indicated that the polymerization was a living/controlled process in which molecular weight increased linearly with monomer conversion. A lower molecular weight distribution (M(w)/M(n) < 1.5) was maintained. The nontoxic and biocompatible characteristics of the iron catalyst facilitate its mediated polymerization to be used in the preparation of functional polymer materials for biomedical use.