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.
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