Catalysts are essential for mediating a controlled polymerization in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Copper-based catalysts are widely explored in ATRP and are highly efficient, leading to well-controlled polymerization of a variety of functional monomers. In addition to copper, iron-based complexes offer new opportunities in ATRP catalysis to develop environmentally friendly, less toxic, inexpensive, and abundant catalytic systems. Despite the high efficiency of iron catalysts in controlling polymerization of various monomers including methacrylates and styrene, ATRP of acrylate-based monomers by iron catalysts still remains a challenge. In this paper, we review the fundamentals and recent advances of iron-catalyzed ATRP focusing on development of ligands, catalyst design, and techniques used for iron catalysis in ATRP.

中文翻译：

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原子转移自由基聚合中的铁催化剂


催化剂对于介导原子转移自由基聚合 (ATRP) 中的受控聚合至关重要。铜基催化剂在 ATRP 中得到了广泛的研究，并且效率很高，可以很好地控制各种功能单体的聚合。除了铜之外，铁基配合物还为 ATRP 催化开发环境友好、毒性较小、廉价且丰富的催化系统提供了新的机会。尽管铁催化剂在控制包括甲基丙烯酸酯和苯乙烯在内的各种单体的聚合方面具有很高的效率，但铁催化剂对丙烯酸酯单体的 ATRP 仍然是一个挑战。在本文中，我们回顾了铁催化 ATRP 的基本原理和最新进展，重点关注配体的开发、催化剂设计以及 ATRP 中铁催化技术。