Metal-free ATRP with oligopyrene as a photocatalyst under LED irradiation

A metal-free approach to visible-light LED-induced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using oligopyrene as a photocatalyst is reported. The method facilitates the polymerization of various vinyl monomers, yielding polymers with molecular weight distribution as low as 1.32 and controlled chain-end functionality. Light on/off experiments demonstrate the light-dependent nature of the polymerization, confirming the effectiveness of the oligopyrene/alkyl halide system. The presented strategy paves the way for future advancements in polymer science, offering a metal-free alternative for controlled polymerization under visible light irradiation.