Temporal control of RAFT polymerization via magnetic catalysis

Abstract

Magnetic core–shell structured catalysts, Fe3O4@Fe(II)–MOF nanoparticles (NPs), are synthesized in two steps including solvothermal synthesis of Fe3O4 NPs and self-assembly of Fe(II)–MOF particles on the core. They successfully enabled the real time and temporal control of an aqueous reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization initiated by the Fenton reaction via an “on–off” reaction at room temperature. The Fenton reaction involves the reduction process of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by ferrous ions (Fe(II), inside the MOF), generating hydroxyl radicals (HO˙). These highly reactive radicals, therefore, initiate the magnetic Fenton-RAFT polymerization under ambient co..