“Living” radical polymerization method for vinyl monomer by near-infrared photothermal conversion

A “living” radical polymerization method for a vinyl monomer by near-infrared photothermal conversion, comprising:

• irradiating a reactor with near-infrared light having a wavelength of 750-850 nm, wherein the reactor is provided with a first chamber and a second chamber which are isolated from each other, the first chamber contains an organic solution of a near-infrared light responsive dye, and the second chamber is provided with a closed reaction flask containing a reaction solution;
• and wherein the near-infrared light is irradiated into the first chamber, so that the near-infrared light responsive dye in the first chamber converts the near-infrared light into heat energy, by which the reaction solution in the second chamber is heated to 50-100° C. to allow “living” radical polymerization of the vinyl monomer in the reaction solution to obtain polymers selected from the group consisting of Formula (4), Formula (5) and Formula (6);
• wherein the near-infrared light responsive dye is selected from the group consisting of the croconaine compounds of Formula (1), Formula (2), Formula (3) and any combination thereof:
• in which n1 and n2 are each independently selected from 1-10;
• the reaction solution comprises a vinyl monomer, an organic solvent, an ATRP initiator, an ATRP ligand, and an ATRP catalyst;
• or
• the reaction solution comprises a vinyl monomer, an organic solvent, an RAFT reagent, and a thermal initiator;
• or
• the reaction solution comprises a vinyl monomer, an organic solvent, an ATRP initiator and an additive, where the additive is an organic amine and/or an iodine-containing compound;
• and
• wherein the polymers of Formula (4), Formula (5) and Formula (6) respectively has a structure below:
• in which m1, m2 and m3 are each independently selected from 10-300;
• R1, R1′ and R1″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of isobutylcyano, 4-cyanovaleric acid-yl, ethyl 2-phenylacetate substituent group, and ethyl 2-isobutyrate substituent group
• R2, R2′ and R2″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl;
• R3, R3′ and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 2-naphthyl, bromo, chloro, and iodo;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, butyl, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and N, N-dimethylaminoethyl;
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or hydroxymethyl;
• and
• R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, and hydroxymethyl.