Transition metal catalysts play a prominent role in modern organic and polymer chemistry, enabling many transformations of academic and industrial significance. However, the use of organometallic catalysts often requires the removal of their residues from reaction products, which is particularly important in the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, the development of efficient and economical methods for the removal of metal contamination is of critical importance. Herein, we demonstrate that commercially available 1,4-bis(3-isocyanopropyl)piperazine can be used as a highly efficient quenching agent ( QA ) and copper scavenger in Cu/TEMPO alcohol aerobic oxidation (Stahl oxidation) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The addition of QA immediately terminates Cu-mediated reactions under various conditions, forming a copper complex that can be easily separated from both small molecules and macromolecules. The purification protocol for aldehydes is based on the addition of a small amount of silica gel followed by QA and filtration. The use of QA@SiO2 synthesized in situ results in products with Cu content usually below 5 ppm. Purification of polymers involves only the addition of QA in THF followed by filtration, leading to polymers with very low Cu content, even after ATRP with high catalyst loading. Furthermore, the addition of QA completely prevents oxidative alkyne–alkyne (Glaser) coupling. Although isocyanide QA shows moderate toxicity, it can be easily converted into a non-toxic compound by acid hydrolysis.
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Cu‐Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: The Effect of Cocatalysts
Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is one of the most powerful methods to prepare well‐defined (co)polymers. Cu‐catalyzed ATRP methods are most commonly used because of the excellent control and tunable catalytic activities via ligand functionalization. This minireview summarizes the development of Cu‐catalyzed ATRP in the presence of cocatalysts, which are used to regenerate CuIcomplex activators during polymerizations. Fundamentals of Cu‐based ATRP catalysts are first introduced, followed by the discussion of different types of cocatalysts in different Cu‐catalyzed ATRP methods. Recent developments of photochemical cocatalysts for oxygen‐tolerant ATRP and ATRP using long‐wavelength irradiation are highlighted, which significantly expand the applications of Cu‐catalyzed ATRP. Methods to study the properties of cocatalysts and their roles in Cu‐catalyzed ATRP are discussed, with an outlook for the future development of cocatalysts.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 2000391
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10383244
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
- Volume:
- 224
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 1022-1352
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Approaching 25 years since its invention, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is established as a powerful technique to prepare precisely defined polymeric materials. This perspective focuses on the relation between structure and activity of ATRP catalysts, and the consequent choice of the initiating system, which are paramount aspects to well‐controlled polymerizations. The ATRP mechanism is discussed, including the effect of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters and side reactions affecting the catalyst. The coordination chemistry and activity of copper complexes used in ATRP are reviewed in chronological order, while emphasizing the structure–activity correlation. ATRP‐initiating systems are described, from normal ATRP to low ppm Cu systems. Most recent advancements regarding dispersed media and oxygen‐tolerant techniques are presented, as well as future opportunities that arise from progressively more active catalysts and deeper mechanistic understanding.
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Abstract A facile and efficient two‐step synthesis of
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Abstract A facile and efficient two‐step synthesis of
p ‐substituted tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) ligands to form Cu complexes with the highest activity to date in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is presented. In the divergent synthesis,p ‐Cl substituents in tris(4‐chloro‐2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA3Cl) were replaced in one step and high yield by electron‐donating cyclic amines (pyrrolidine (TPMAPYR), piperidine (TPMAPIP), and morpholine (TPMAMOR)) by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The [CuII(TPMANR2)Br]+complexes exhibited larger energy gaps between frontier molecular orbitals and >0.2 V more negative reduction potentials than [CuII(TPMA)Br]+, indicating >3 orders of magnitude higher ATRP activity. [CuI(TPMAPYR)]+exhibited the highest reported activity for Br‐capped acrylate chain ends in DMF, and moderate activity toward C−F bonds at room temperature. ATRP ofn ‐butyl acrylate using only 10–25 part per million loadings of [CuII(TPMANR2)Br]+exhibited excellent control. -
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ABSTRACT Electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRPs) provide well‐defined polymers with designed dispersity as well as under external temporal and spatial control. In this study, 1‐cyano‐1‐methylethyl diethyldithiocarbamate, typically used as chain‐transfer agent (CTA) in reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, was electrochemically activated by the ATRP catalyst CuI/2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) to control the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Mechanistic study showed that this polymerization was mainly controlled by the ATRP equilibrium. The effect of applied potential, catalyst counterion, catalyst concentration, and targeted degree of polymerization were investigated. The chain‐end functionality was preserved as demonstrated by chain extension of poly(methyl methacrylate) with
n ‐butyl methacrylate and styrene. This electrochemical ATRP procedure confirms that RAFT CTAs can be activated by an electrochemical stimulus. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2019 ,57 , 376–381
