Copper oxide activation in water

Findings published during the year in Polymer Chemistry (RSC) in collaboration with Professor Virgil Percec (University of Pennsylvania) provided the strongest evidence for Copper(II) oxide (Cu(0)) activation in water, resulting in the preparation of water-soluble polymers directly in water. Both propagation and reversible deactivation steps occur while the polymer radical is adsorbed on the surface of the Cu(0) catalyst.