tert-Butyl 2-bromoisobutyrate
CAS 23877-12-5
A tiny alpha-bromoester helped make radical polymerization behave more like molecular engineering.
tert-Butyl 2-bromoisobutyrate helps answer a polymer question: how can thousands of radical chains grow with better control? In ATRP, its C-Br bond enters a reversible activation/deactivation cycle. Chains spend most of their time dormant, keeping radical concentrations low and suppressing termination. The surviving halogen chain end can also be reactivated, enabling block copolymers and polymer brushes. A small initiator becomes a tool for polymer architecture.
Published:
2026-09-03
