(643g) Solid-Supported Photoredox Polymerization Catalysis

Polymers are an integral part of our society. Photoredox catalysis is an appealing approach as it can convert visible to near visible light into chemical energy, producing reactive radical intermediates to mediate and control the polymerization process. One drawback to light-mediated polymerization is caused by expensive transition metal photocatalysts that contaminate the final polymer product. Heterogeneous photoredox catalysis provides possibilities to circumvent these limitations. This presentation outlines the synthesis of photocatalysts with surface anchoring groups. We studied these molecules in homogeneous and heterogenous controlled radical polymerization and examined their reusability. Each step of the small molecule synthesis was characterized systematically by a variety of electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. This presentation will ultimately demonstrate studies regarding the catalytic activity of the photocatalyst and prevention of metal impurities in the final product.