An efficient, heterogeneous, reusable atom transfer radical polymerization catalyst

Melamine based porous polymer (MPP) was prepared as a template solid to incorporate Cu(I) cations into the framework through chelating with nitrogen groups of the melamine. The copper integrated porous material (Cu(I)@MPP) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst and displayed high activity in copper catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The characterization of the Cu(I)@MPP was performed using nitrogen adsorption experiments and wide-angle X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. The atomic absorption spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the catalyst is practically non-leaching and Cu(I) was found to be below 20 ppb after each atom transfer radical polymerization. Moreover, the catalyst showed reusability without any significant change in its activity.