The efficient Cu(0) wire-catalyzed single-electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) in organic solvents and mixtures of the organic solvents with water has been thoroughly investigated. Oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether acrylate was used as an exemplar oligomer monomer to determine the optimum polymerization conditions for rapid, controlled, and quantitative production of well-defined polymers. The effects of Cu(0)-wire length (12.5 or 4.5 cm), ligand type (tris(dimethylaminoethyl)amine, Me₆-TREN, or tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, TREN), and solvent type (dipolar aprotic solvents, cyclic ethers, alcohol, or acetone) on the polymerization have been evaluated. Kinetic experiments were performed for all polymerizations to assess the “living” behavior of each system employed. Importantly, TREN could be used as a replacement for Me₆-TREN in Cu(0) wire-catalyzed SET-LRP of oligomer monomer, which probably provides the most economical and efficient methodology since TREN is 80 times less expensive than Me₆-TREN. The high chain-end fidelity of resulting polymer was experimentally verified by thiol-Michael addition reaction at the α-Br chain end and subsequent chain extension with methyl acrylate.

A sulfur transfer agent in catalysts can effectively reduce the emission of SO₂ with minimum adverse effects on the catalytic cracking ability of the primary catalyst. In this paper, the composition and performance of sulfur transfer agents with different oxidative active components (such as Cu, Fe, Ni, Co, Ba, Zn and Cr) were prepared by acid peptization technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and N₂ adsorption-desorption technique. The relationship between the composition and performance of the new sulfur transfer agents was investigated and the regeneration and recycling of the agents were performed. The results indicates that copper is a very good desulfurization active component. Moreover, the presence of CO has no significant effect on the absorption ability of SO₂ by the sulfur transfer agent.