Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Alpha‐Amino Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) with High Tg through Emulsion Polymerization by Using Transition Metal Cation–Tertiary Amine Pairs as a Mono‐Centered Initiator

As some complexes of transition metal cations in high oxidation state can oxidize tertiary amines under proper conditions into aminoalkyl radicals to initiate polymerization of electron‐deficient vinylic monomers, they form mono‐centered redox‐initiation pairs for preparation of 100% alpha‐amino telechelic polymer. Radical emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) is performed by using water‐soluble amines as a reducing agent and Fe^III or Cu^II as an oxidizing agent. Tertiary amines such as 2‐(N,N‐dialkylamino)ethanol and N,N,N′,N′‐tertramethylethylenediamine exhibit a higher initiation activity. Monomer conversion can reach 80% in 8 h and 95% in 16 h, leading to PMMA with an absolute weight‐average molecular weight above 1.5 × 10⁶ g mol^?1. The alpha‐amino terminal functionality is verified by ultraviolet‐induced diarylketone‐initiated radical bock polymerization by using these PMMA chains as the macro‐sensitizer. Such a facile heterogeneous technique results in syndiotactic‐rich high‐T_g PMMA (rr > 50%, T_g = 124–127 °C). PMMA chains may be oxidized by Fe^II–O₂ complexes to initiate further radical polymerization, leading to PMMA with a long‐chain branched architecture.

     

Carbon Dots as a Promising Green Photocatalyst for Free Radical and ATRP‐Based Radical Photopolymerization with Blue LEDs

Carbon dots (CDs) have been used for the first time as a sensitizer to initiate and activate free radical and controlled radical polymerization, respectively, based on an ATRP protocol with blue LEDs. Consideration of diverse heteroatom‐doped CDs indicated that N‐doped CDs could serve as an effective photocatalyst and photosensitizer in combination with LEDs emitting either at 405 nm or 470 nm. Free radical polymerization was initiated by combining the CDs with an iodonium or sulfonium salt in tri(propylene glycol) diacrylate. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) by photo‐induced ATRP was achieved with CDs and ethyl α‐bromophenylacetate using Cu^II as catalyst in the ppm range. The polymers obtained showed temporal control, narrower dispersity ?1.5, and chain‐end fidelity. The first‐order kinetics and ON/OFF experiments additionally gave evidence of the constant concentration of polymer radicals. No remarkable cytotoxic activity was observed for the CDs, underlining their biocompatibility.     

A Kinetic Study of Phenolic Oxidation by H2O2 Using the Schiff Base Complexes As Mimetic Peroxidases

The Schiff base complexes containing a transition metal ion, Co^II and Cu^II, were used as mimetic peroxidase in the catalytic oxidation of phenol by H₂O₂. The characteristic spectra of the Schiff base complexes in H₂O₂-buffered solution were recorded and analyzed, respectively. The mechanism and the kinetic mathematic model of the phenol catalytic oxidation were studied. The results showed that the Schiff base complexes containing the transition metal ion, Co^II and Cu^II, as peroxidase mimics exhibited good catalytic activity and the character of the peroxidase in the catalytic oxidation of phenol by H₂O₂ under different conditions.     

Oxidation of styrene and cyclohexene with TBHP catalyzed by copper(II) complex encapsulated in zeolite-Y

Reaction of monobasic tridentate Hacpy-oap (Hacpy-oap?=?Schiff base derived from 2-acetylpyridine and o-aminophenol) with Cu^IICl₂ in refluxing methanol results in formation of [Cu^II(acpy-oap)Cl]. DFT calculations have been used to optimize structure of the complex. [Cu^II(acpy-oap)Cl] has also been encapsulated in the nanocavity of zeolite-Y and its encapsulation ensured by various physico-chemical techniques. Neat as well as encapsulated complexes are active catalysts for oxidation of styrene and cyclohexene using tert-butylhydroperoxide. Reaction conditions for oxidation of these substrates have been optimized by concentration of oxidant, amount of catalyst, volume of solvent and temperature of the reaction mixture. [Cu^II(acpy-oap)Cl] does not leach metal ion during catalytic activity and is recyclable.     

A density functional theory computational study of the role of ligand on the stability of CuI and CuII species associated with ATRP and SET‐LRP

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and single electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) both utilize copper complexes of various oxidation states with N‐ligands to perform their respective activation and deactivation steps. Herein, we utilize DFT (B3YLP) methods to determine the preferred ligand‐binding geometries for Cu/N‐ligand complexes related to ATRP and SET‐LRP. We find that those ligands capable of achieving tetrahedral complexes with Cu^I and trigonal bipyramidal with axial halide complexes with [Cu^IIX]⁺ have higher energies of stabilization. We were able to correlate calculated preferential stabilization of [Cu^IIX]⁺ with those ligands that perform best in SET‐LRP. A crude calculation of energy of disproportionation revealed that the same preferential binding of [Cu^IIX]⁺ results in increased propensity for disproportionation. Finally, by examining the relative energies of the basic steps of ATRP and SET‐LRP, we were able to rationalize the transition from the ATRP mechanism to the SET‐LRP mechanism as we transition from typical nonpolar ATRP solvents to polar SET‐LRP solvents. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4950–4964, 2007     

The interaction of carbon-centered radicals with copper(I) and copper(II) complexes*

Abstract

Although alkylcopper(I) reagents are widespread, compounds containing alkyl ligands on Cu^II or Cu^III are much less common. Such complexes, however, are generated as transient species when carbon-center radicals add to Cu^I or Cu^II complexes, respectively, and appear to be involved in several copper-catalyzed organic transformations. A few organocopper(II) and organocopper(III) complexes were found sufficiently robust to allow isolation and full characterization. This article reviews the reactivity of carbon-centered radicals with Cu^I and Cu^II ions, both in aqueous and non-aqueous environments, with focus on the importance of the resulting organocopper species on atom transfer radical polymerization and on copper-catalyzed radical termination.     

Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol with CuII and ZnII Complexes of the Phenoxyl Radical as a Model of the Reaction of Galactose Oxidase

Profound insights into the catalytic mechanism of galactose oxidase (GO) are offered by new models of the active form of the metalloenzyme. The important role of the Cu^II center in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by the Cu^II–phenoxyl radical complex of ligand 1 has been revealed by comparison with the reactivity of the corresponding Zn^II–phenoxyl radical complex; py=2-pyridyl.     

Formate-driven catalysis and mechanism of an iridium–copper complex for selective aerobic oxidation of aromatic olefins in water

A hetero-dinuclear Ir^III–Cu^II complex with two adjacent sites was employed as a catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of aromatic olefins driven by formate in water. An Ir^III–H intermediate, generated through formate dehydrogenation, was revealed to activate terminal aromatic olefins to afford an Ir-alkyl species, and the process was promoted by a hydrophobic [Ir^III–H]-[substrate aromatic ring] interaction in water. The Ir-alkyl species subsequently reacted with dioxygen to yield corresponding methyl ketones and was promoted by the presence of the Cu^II moiety under acidic conditions. The Ir^III–Cu^II complex exhibited cooperative catalysis in the selective aerobic oxidation of olefins to corresponding methyl ketones, as evidenced by no reactivities observed from the corresponding mononuclear Ir^III and Cu^II complexes, as the individual components of the Ir^III–Cu^II complex. The reaction mechanism afforded by the Ir^III–Cu^II complex in the aerobic oxidation was disclosed by a combination of spectroscopic detection of reaction intermediates, kinetic analysis, and theoretical calculations.

A hetero-dinuclear Ir^III–Cu^II complex with two adjacent sites was employed as a catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of aromatic olefins driven by formate and promoted by a hydrophobic interaction in water.     

Redox switchable ligands suitable for transition metal ions: Protonation,complexation and electrochemical properties of a ferrocene-modified tetraamine diketone and its saturated analogue

Abstract

The new ferrocene-containing water-soluble ligands 1 and 2 were synthesized and their protonation and complexation properties toward Ni^II and Cu^II studied as a function of pH, by means of potentiometric titration experiments. Electrochemical measurements were performed in aqueous solution on pure 1 and 2 and in the presence of Ni^II and Cu^II cations, in the pH range 2–12, allowing us to determine the redox potential values relative to the ferrocene oxidation in the free ligands and in their Ni^II and Cu^II complexes. 1 and 2 behave as redox switchable ligands, the former enhancing, the latter decreasing its binding ability upon oxidation of the appended ferrocene function. Besides, the Cu^II complex of ligand 1 and the Ni^II complex of ligand 2 behave as two-centre two-electron redox systems, the complexed metal cation being subject to further oxidation to M^III.     

Kinetic and ESR studies of the Cu<Superscript>II</Superscript>-halides mediated oxidation of promazine by dioxygen in acidic aqueous solutions

The Cu^II-mediated oxidation of promazine by dioxygen to form promazine 5-oxide was studied in the presence of a large excess of dioxygen, Cu^II-halides (Cl⁻, Br⁻) and H⁺ ions using u.v.–vis and ESR spectroscopies. The first step is a fast reaction between promazine and Cu^II-halides leading to the production of a stable promazine radical with much higher yield in bromide than chloride media. ESR results provide clear evidence for the formation of this radical. In the second step the cation radical is oxidized by dioxygen to a dication hydrolyzing to promazine 5-oxide. The promazine-superoxide complex, concentration of which is determined by steady-state approximation, is postulated as a significant intermediate resulting from the reduction of dioxygen by the cation radical. The final product, promazine 5-oxide, is formed via a spontaneous and a Cu^II-assisted reaction path way. Cu^II controls the reaction rate through: (i) oxidation of promazine to the promazine radical, (ii) acting as a scavenger of superoxide, and (iii) slow oxidation of the promazine radical in the parallel reaction. The rate is independent of [H⁺], linearly dependent on [O₂] and only slightly dependent on [Cu^II] within the excess concentration range of the Cu^II complexes used. Mechanistic consequences of all these results are discussed.     

Dual catalytic performance of arene-ruthenium amine complexes for norbornene ring-opening metathesis and methyl methacrylate atom-transfer radical polymerizations

Arene ruthenium(II) complexes bearing the cyclic amines RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)(pyrrolidine)] ( 1 ), [RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)(piperidine)] ( 2 ), and [RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)(peridroazepine)] ( 3 ) were successfully synthesized. Complexes 1 – 3 were fully characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible, and NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, computational methods, and one of the complexes was further studied by single crystal X-ray crystallography. These compounds were evaluated as catalytic precursors for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene (NBE) and atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA). NBE polymerization via ROMP was evaluated using complexes 1 – 3 as precatalysts in the presence of ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) under different [NBE]/[EDA]/[Ru] ratios, temperatures (25 and 50°C), and reaction times (5–60 min). The highest yields of polyNBE were obtained with [NBE]/[EDA]/[Ru] = 5000/28/1 for 60 min at 50°C. MMA polymerization via ATRP was conducted using 1 – 3 as catalysts in the presence of ethyl-α-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as initiator. The catalytic tests were evaluated as a function of the reaction time using the initial molar ratio of [MMA]/[EBiB]/[Ru] = 1000/2/1 at 95°C. The increase in molecular weight as function of time indicates that complexes 1–3 were able to mediate the MMA polymerization with an acceptable rate and some level of control. Differences in the rate of polymerization were observed in the order 3 > 2 > 1 for the ROMP and ATRP.     

Polymerization of vinyl monomers by diphenylsulfone–potassium complexes

Diphenylsulfone (DPSO₂) was found to react with an equimolar amount of potassium in tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethoxyethane (DME), or diglyme (DG) at reflux or an elevated temperature to yield a reddish-black solution, giving an electron spin resonance (ESR) signal. The signal was attributed to the formation of relatively labile DPSO₂ anion radical. The apparent effects of solvents on the reactivity of DPSO₂ with potassium depended on the polarities and the solvation powers: benzene ? toluene ? dioxane ? tetrahydrofuran < monoglyme < diglyme. The monopotassium complex was found to react further with another molecular amount of the metal to yield a dark blue solution giving no ESR signal. The monopotassium complex initiated the polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN). It did not, however, initiate the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), or isoprene (IP). The active species of the monopotassium complex that initiated the polymerization of AN was found from analyses of the reaction products and the infrared spectrum of oily oligomer of AN obtained by the complex to be potassium benzenesulfinate. The dipotassium complex was found to initiate the polymerization of MMA, St, IP and AN. The active species of the dipotassium complex that initiated the polymerization of MMA, St, or IP was found from analyses of the reaction products and the infrared spectrum of the oily oligomer of MMA obtained by the complex to be phenyl potassium.     

Preparation and catalysis of chloromethylated polystyrene‐supported macrocyclic Schiff base metal complexes for the oxidation of cumene

Chloromethylated polystyrene‐supported macrocyclic Schiff base metal complexes (PS‐L‐M, M = Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Mn²⁺) were synthesized and characterized by the methods of IR, ICP, and small area X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The oxidation of cumene by molecular oxygen in the absence of solvent with the synthesized complexes employed as catalyst was carried out. In comparison with their catalytic activities, PS‐L‐Cu is a more effective catalyst for the oxidation of cumene. The main products are 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol (PP) and cumene hydroperoxide, which were measured by GC/MS. The influences of reaction temperature, the amount of catalyst, as well as the reaction time on the oxidation of cumene were investigated. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Ruthenium(II)–Copper(II) Dyad for the Photocatalytic Oxygenation of Organic Substrates Mediated by Dioxygen Activation

Dioxygen activation by copper complexes is a valuable method to achieve oxidation reactions for sustainable chemistry. The development of a catalytic system requires regeneration of the Cu^I active redox state from Cu^II. This is usually achieved using extra reducers that can compete with the Cu^II(O₂) oxidizing species, causing a loss of efficiency. An alternative would consist of using a photosensitizer to control the reduction process. Association of a Ru^II photosensitizing subunit with a Cu^II pre‐catalytic moiety assembled within a unique entity is shown to fulfill these requirements. In presence of a sacrificial electron donor and light, electron transfer occurs from the Ru^II center to Cu^II. In presence of dioxygen, this dyad proved to be efficient for sulfide, phosphine, and alkene catalytic oxygenation. Mechanistic investigations gave evidence about a predominant ³O₂ activation pathway by the Cu^I moiety.     

Cobalt(II) phenoxy-imine complexes in radical polymerization of vinyl acetate: The interplay of catalytic chain transfer and controlled/living radical polymerization

A series of cobalt(II) phenoxy-imine complexes (Co^II(FI)₂) have been synthesized to mediate the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and methyl acrylate (MA) to evaluate the influence of chelating atoms and configuration to the control of polymerization. The VAc polymerizations showed the properties of controlled/living radical polymerization (C/LRP) with complexes 1a and 3a , but the catalytic chain transfer (CCT) behaviors with complexes 2a , 1b , 2b , and 3b . The control of VAc polymerization mediated by complex 1a could be improved by decreasing the reaction temperature to approach the molecular weights that not only linearly increased with conversions but also matched the theoretical values and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. The catalytic chain transfer polymerizations (CCTP) mediated by complexes 2a , 1b , 2b , and 3b were characterized by Mayo plots and the polymer chain end double bonds were observed by ¹H NMR spectra. The tendency toward C/LRP or CCTP in VAc polymerization mediated by Co^II(FI)₂ could be determined by the ligand structure. Cobalt complex coordinated by the ligand with more steric hindered and less electron-donating substituents favored the controlled/living radical polymerization. In contrast, the efficiency of CCT process could be enhanced by less steric hindered, more electron-donating ligands. The controlled/living radical polymerization of MA, however, could not be achieved by the mediation of these cobalt(II) phenoxy-imine complexes. Associated with the results of polymerization mediated by other cobalt complexes, this study implied that the configuration and spin state of cobalt complexes were more critical than the chelating atoms to the control behavior of radical polymerization. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 101–113     

Bismesitoylphosphinic Acid (BAPO‐OH): A Ligand for Copper Complexes and Four‐Electron Photoreductant for the Preparation of Copper Nanomaterials

Bismesitoylphosphinic acid, (HO)PO(COMes)₂ (BAPO‐OH), is an efficient photoinitiator for free‐radical polymerizations of olefins in aqueous phase. Described here are the structures of various copper(II) and copper(I) complexes with BAPO‐OH as the ligand. The complex Cu^II(BAPO‐O)₂(H₂O)₂ is photoactive, and under irradiation with UV light in aqueous phase, it serves as a source of metallic copper in high purity and yield (>80 %). Simultaneously, the radical polymerization of acrylates can be initiated and allows the preparation of nanoparticle/polymer nanocomposites in which the metallic Cu nanoparticles are protected against oxidation. The determination of the stoichiometry of the photoreductions suggests an almost quantitative conversion from Cu^II into Cu⁰ with half an equivalent of BAPO‐OH, which serves as a four‐electron photoreductant.     

Synthesis of heteropolynuclear Cu<Superscript>I</Superscript> and Pd<Superscript>II</Superscript> complexes with polymeric 2,2′-biquinoline-containing ligands and investigation of their catalytic activity in the Sonogashira couplings

A method for electrosynthesis of heteropolynuclear biquinoline-containing Cu^I and Pd^II complexes using sacrificial Cu and Pd anodes was developed. The sequence of anode dissolution (first Pd and then Cu) was important for the synthesis of the complex. The opposite sequence of dissolution resulted in oxidation of the initially formed Cu^I ions to Cu^II. The obtained Cu^I and Pd^II complexes with polymer ligands had high catalytic activity in the reaction of aryl halides with phenylacetylene giving rise to a C(sp²)-C(sp) bond. The yield of arylphenylacetylene in the presence of 0.1 mol.% of Pd catalyst in relation to the starting halide was 50–90% depending on the nature of the aryl halide.     

Copper(II) and Sodium(I) Complexes based on 3,7‐Diacetyl‐1,3,7‐triaza‐5‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐5‐oxide: Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalytic Activity

The reaction of 3,7‐diacetyl‐1,3,7‐triaza‐5‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA) with metal salts of Cu^II or Na^I/Ni^II under mild conditions led to the oxidized phosphane derivative 3,7‐diacetyl‐1,3,7‐triaza‐5‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐5‐oxide (DAPTA=O) and to the first examples of metal complexes based on the DAPTA=O ligand, that is, [Cu^II(μ‐CH₃COO)₂(κO‐DAPTA=O)]₂ ( 1 ) and [Na(1κOO′;2κO‐DAPTA=O)(MeOH)]₂(BPh₄)₂ ( 2 ). The catalytic activity of 1 was tested in the Henry reaction and for the aerobic 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO)‐mediated oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Compound 1 was also evaluated as a model system for the catechol oxidase enzyme by using 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol as the substrate. The kinetic data fitted the Michaelis–Menten equation and enabled the obtainment of a rate constant for the catalytic reaction; this rate constant is among the highest obtained for this substrate with the use of dinuclear Cu^II complexes. DFT calculations discarded a bridging mode binding type of the substrate and suggested a mixed‐valence Cu^II/Cu^I complex intermediate, in which the spin electron density is mostly concentrated at one of the Cu atoms and at the organic ligand.     

Electronic Structure of Copper Corroles

The ground state electronic structure of copper corroles has been a topic of debate and revision since the advent of corrole chemistry. Computational studies formulate neutral Cu corroles with an antiferromagnetically coupled Cu^II corrole radical cation ground state. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, EPR, and magnetometry support this assignment. For comparison, Cu^II isocorrole and [TBA][Cu(CF₃)₄] were studied as authentic Cu^II and Cu^III samples, respectively. In addition, the one‐electron reduction and one‐electron oxidation processes are both ligand‐based, demonstrating that the Cu^II centre is retained in these derivatives. These observations underscore ligand non‐innocence in copper corrole complexes.     

Electrochemically Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization from a Substrate Surface Manipulated by Bipolar Electrolysis: Fabrication of Gradient and Patterned Polymer Brushes

We report the first ever use of electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP) employing a bipolar electrochemical method for the fabrication of both gradient and patterned polymer brushes. A potential gradient generated on a bipolar electrode allowed the formation of a concentration gradient of a Cu^I polymerization catalyst through the one‐electron reduction of Cu^II, resulting in the gradient growth of poly(NIPAM) brushes from an initiator‐modified substrate surface set close to a bipolar electrode. These polymer brushes could be fabricated in three‐dimensional gradient shapes with control over thickness, steepness, and modified area by varying the electrolytic conditions. Moreover, by site‐selective application of potential during bipolar electrolysis, a polymer brush with a circular pattern was successfully formed. Polymerization was achieved using both a polar monomer (NIPAM) and a nonpolar monomer (MMA) with the eATRP system.