Ultrastable and Highly Catalytically Active N‐Heterocyclic‐Carbene‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles in Confined Spaces

Controlling the size and surface functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs) can lead to improved properties and applicability. Herein, we demonstrate the efficiency of the metal‐carbene template approach (MCTA) to synthesize highly robust and soluble three‐dimensional polyimidazolium cages (PICs) of different sizes, each bearing numerous imidazolium groups, and use these as templates to synthesize and stabilize catalytically active, cavity‐hosted, dispersed poly‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐anchored gold NPs. Owing to the stabilization of the NHC ligands and the effective confinement of the cage cavities, the as‐prepared poly‐NHC‐shell‐encapsulated AuNPs displayed promising stability towards heat, pH, and chemical regents. Most notably, all the Au@PCCs (PCC=polycarbene cage) exhibited excellent catalytic activities in various chemical reactions, together with high stability and durability.     

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry studies of alkanethiol self‐assembled monolayers on nanoporous gold surfaces

The dimerization of alkanethiol mixtures (hexanethiol, octanethiol, and dodecanethiol) to form self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) from headspace on nanoporous gold surfaces was studied for the first time using gas chromatography (GC/MS) and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS). The nanoporous gold surfaces were obtained by an acidic etching of a 585‐gold alloy. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) was utilized to study the change of the surface geometry and porosity of the gold surfaces before and after etching. Alkanethiols were deposited from the vapor phase above the thiol solutions (headspace) on nanoporous gold plates and nanoporous gold solid‐phase vmicroextraction (SPME) fibers. The nanoporous gold substrates were analyzed by TOF‐SIMS and GC/MS, respectively. The TOF‐SIMS spectra exhibited various gold–sulfur ion clusters and specific peaks related to the adsorption of thiols such as deprotonated monomers, thiolate–Au, dimers (e.g., dialkyl sulfides–Au and dialkyl disulfides–Au). The GC/MS analysis of headspace extractions of alkanethiol mixtures by nanoporous gold SPME fibers showed a high extraction efficiency of alkanethiol, dialkyl sulfide, and dialkyl disulfide when compared with the commercial SPME fibers (DVB‐CAR‐PDMS and CAR‐PDMS). Different GC/MS optimization factors were studied including the extraction time and desorption temperature.     

An Original L‐shape,Tunable N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Platform for Efficient Gold(I) Catalysis

The synthesis and characterization of original NHC ligands based on an imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐3‐ylidene (IPy) scaffold functionalized with a flanking barbituric heterocycle is described as well as their use as tunable ligands for efficient gold‐catalyzed C?N, C?O, and C?C bond formations. High activity, regio‐, chemo‐, and stereoselectivities are obtained for hydroelementation and domino processes, underlining the excellent performance (TONs and TOFs) of these IPy‐based ligands in gold catalysis. The gold‐catalyzed domino reactions of 1,6‐enynes give rise to functionalized heterocycles in excellent isolated yields under mild conditions. The efficiency of the NHC gold 5^Me complex is remarkable and mostly arises from a combination of steric protection and stabilization of the cationic Au^I active species by ligand 1^Me .     

ToF‐SIMS study of 1‐dodecanethiol adsorption on Au,Ag, Cu and Pt surfaces

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) has been used to perform a chemical analysis of long‐chain thiol (CH₃(CH₂)₁₁SH)‐treated gold, silver, copper and platinum surfaces. All the mass peaks from positive and negative ion spectra within the range m/z = 0–2000 u are studied. ToF‐SIMS data revealed that on gold, silver and copper substrates 1‐dodecanethiol form dense standing‐up phases, but on platinum being a catalytically active substrate, we were able to identify also surface‐aligned parallel lying molecules in addition to a standing thiolate layer. Our study shows that when ToF‐SIMS spectra are analyzed, not only the existence of oligomers but also metal + hydrocarbon fragments give information about the order of SAM. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Original L‐shape,Tunable N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Platform for Efficient Gold(I) Catalysis

The synthesis and characterization of original NHC ligands based on an imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐3‐ylidene (IPy) scaffold functionalized with a flanking barbituric heterocycle is described as well as their use as tunable ligands for efficient gold‐catalyzed C?N, C?O, and C?C bond formations. High activity, regio‐, chemo‐, and stereoselectivities are obtained for hydroelementation and domino processes, underlining the excellent performance (TONs and TOFs) of these IPy‐based ligands in gold catalysis. The gold‐catalyzed domino reactions of 1,6‐enynes give rise to functionalized heterocycles in excellent isolated yields under mild conditions. The efficiency of the NHC gold 5^Me complex is remarkable and mostly arises from a combination of steric protection and stabilization of the cationic Au^I active species by ligand 1^Me .     

Elevated Catalytic Activity of Ruthenium(II)–Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Carbene/Nitrene Transfer and Insertion Reactions with N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

Bis(NHC)ruthenium(II)–porphyrin complexes were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Owing to the strong donor strength of axial NHC ligands in stabilizing the trans M?CRR′/M?NR moiety, these complexes showed unprecedently high catalytic activity towards alkene cyclopropanation, carbene C? H, N? H, S? H, and O? H insertion, alkene aziridination, and nitrene C? H insertion with turnover frequencies up to 1950 min^?1. The use of chiral [Ru(D₄‐Por)(BIMe)₂] ( 1 g ) as a catalyst led to highly enantioselective carbene/nitrene transfer and insertion reactions with up to 98 % ee. Carbene modification of the N terminus of peptides at 37 °C was possible. DFT calculations revealed that the trans axial NHC ligand facilitates the decomposition of diazo compounds by stabilizing the metal–carbene reaction intermediate.     

1,2,4‐Triazole‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of gold(I): synthesis,characterization and biological activity

Two gold(I) complexes of the (NHC)AuX type bearing a triazole‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand (1‐tert‐butyl‐4‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐3‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐ium‐5‐ylidene) and various halide ligands (X = Br, I) were synthesized and characterized in solution using NMR spectroscopy as well as in the solid state using X‐ray diffraction techniques. The cytotoxic properties of both compounds and the precursor, (NHC)AuCl, were screened against a panel of human tumour cell lines including liver cancer (HepG2), cervical cancer (HeLa S3) and leukaemia (CCRF‐CEM, HL‐60) and compared to cisplatin and auranofin. It was found that the activities of the chloro and bromo derivatives were generally superior to that of cisplatin and slightly less effective compared to auranofin, except for HepG2 cells where auranofin was not as effective. In addition, the ability to induce membrane phosphatidyl serine externalization as a hallmark of apoptosis in CCRF‐CEM leukaemic cells was investigated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dimers of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Copper,Silver, and Gold Halides: Probing Metallophilic Interactions through Electron Density Based Concepts

Homobimetallic metallophilic interactions between copper, silver, and gold‐based [(NHC)MX]‐type complexes (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene, i.e, 1,3,4‐trimethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene; X=F, Cl, Br, I) were investigated by means of ab initio interaction energies, Ziegler–Rauk‐type energy‐decomposition analysis, the natural orbital for chemical valence (NOCV) framework, and the noncovalent interaction (NCI) index. It was found that the dimers of these complexes predominantly adopt a head‐to‐tail arrangement with typical M ??? M distance of 3.04–3.64 Å, in good agreement with the experimental X‐ray structure determined for [{(NHC)AuCl}₂], which has an Au ??? Au distance of 3.33 Å. The interaction energies between silver‐ and gold‐based monomers are calculated to be about ?25 kcal mol^?1, whereas that for the Cu congener is significantly lower (?19.7 kcal mol^?1). With the inclusion of thermal and solvent contributions, both of which are destabilizing, by about 15 and 8 kcal mol^?1, respectively, an equilibrium process is predicted for the formation of dimer complexes. Energy‐decomposition analysis revealed a dominant electrostatic contribution to the interaction energy, besides significantly stabilizing dispersion and orbital interactions. This electrostatic contribution is rationalized by NHC(δ⁺) ??? halogen(δ^?) interactions between monomers, as demonstrated by electrostatic potentials and derived charges. The dominant NOCV orbital indicates weakening of the π backdonation in the monomers on dimer formation, whereas the second most dominant NOCV represents an electron‐density deformation according to the formation of a very weak M ??? M bond. One of the characteristic signals found in the reduced density gradient versus electron density diagram corresponds to the noncovalent interactions between the metal centers of the monomers in the NCI plots, which is the manifestation of metallophilic interaction.     

A Benchtop Method for Appending Protic Functional Groups to N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Protected Gold Nanoparticles

The remarkable resilience of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gold bonds has quickly made NHCs the ligand of choice when functionalizing gold surfaces. Despite rapid progress using deposition from free or CO₂‐protected NHCs, synthetic challenges hinder the functionalization of NHC surfaces with protic functional groups, such as alcohols and amines, particularly on larger nanoparticles. Here, we synthesize NHC‐functionalized gold surfaces from gold(I) NHC complexes and aqueous nanoparticles without the need for additional reagents, enabling otherwise difficult functional groups to be appended to the carbene. The resilience of the NHC?Au bond allows for multi‐step post‐synthetic modification. Beginning with the nitro‐NHC, we form an amine‐NHC terminated surface, which further undergoes amide coupling with carboxylic acids. The simplicity of this approach, its compatibility with aqueous nanoparticle solutions, and its ability to yield protic functionality, greatly expands the potential of NHC‐functionalized noble metal surfaces.     

Novel Benzyl‐ or 4‐Cyanobenzyl‐Substituted N‐Heterocyclic (Bromo)(carbene)silver(I) and (Carbene)(chloro)gold(I) Complexes: Synthesis and Preliminary Cytotoxicity Studies

N‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes bromo(1,3‐dibenzyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)silver(I) ( 2a ), bromo[1‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐3‐methyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene]silver(I) ( 2b ), and bromo[1‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐3‐methyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene]silver(I) ( 2c ) were prepared by the reaction of 1,3‐dibenzyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium bromide ( 1a ), 3‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium bromide ( 1b ), and 3‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium bromide ( 1c ), respectively, with silver(I) oxide. NHC Complexes chloro(1,3‐dibenzyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)gold(I) ( 3a ), chloro[1‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐3‐methyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene]gold(I) ( 3b ), and chloro[1‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐3‐methyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene]gold(I) ( 3c ) were prepared via transmetallation of corresponding (bromo)(NHC)silver(I) complexes with chloro(dimethylsulfido)gold(I). The complex 3a was characterized in two polymorphic forms by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction showing two rotamers in the solid state. The cytotoxicities of all three bromo(NHC)silver(I) complexes and three (chloro)(NHC)gold(I) complexes were investigated through 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bormide (MTT)‐based preliminary in vitro testing on the Caki‐1 cell line in order to determine their IC₅₀ values. (Bromo)(NHC)silver(I) complexes 2a – 2c and (chloro)(NHC)gold(I) complexes 3a – 3c were found to have IC₅₀ values of 27±2, 28±2, 34±6, 10±1, 12±5, and 12±3 μM , respectively, on the Caki‐1 cell line.     

Insights into N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of 2H‐Azirine with Aldehyde

The possible mechanisms and origin of the enantioselectivity of the reaction between 2H‐azirine and an aldehyde catalyzed by an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) were theoretically studied and predicted at the M06‐2X/6‐31G(d,p)/IEF‐PCM_MTBE//M06‐2X‐GD3/6‐311++G(2df, 2pd)/IEF‐PCM_MTBE level. The most favorable reaction pathway consists of four steps, i.e., complexation of the NHC and the aldehyde, stepwise [1,2]‐proton transfer, C?C bond formation coupled with another proton transfer, and recycling of the NHC. The computational results indicate that the stereoselectivity‐determining step is also the rate‐determining step, which is the third step (i.e., intermolecular addition). The calculated 99 % ee is very close to the experimentally observed value of 96 % ee, demonstrating that the calculations are reliable. Two important roles of the NHC were identified by global reaction index (GRI) analysis and natural population analysis (NPA), that is, realizing the umpolung reactivity of the aldehyde and facilitating the deprotonation of aldehyde. Moreover, the efficiency of different NHC catalysts can be mainly predicted by computing the nucleophilic index of the corresponding Breslow intermediates. Furthermore, distortion/interaction and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analyses revealed that the π???π interactions between the NHC and substrates were the key factor in the reaction enantioselectivity.     

Self‐Assembled Redox System for Bioelectrocatalytic Assay of L‐Ascorbylphosphate and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity

Ferrocene‐terminated self‐assembled monolayer (Fc‐SAM) on gold was used as an electron‐transfer mediator in the electrochemical assay of L ‐ascorbic acid 2‐phosphate (AAP). The assay is based on the enzymatic action of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which triggers the release of vitamin C (L ‐ascorbic acid, AA) from AAP. The latter is easily oxidized on the Fc‐SAM under the diffusion limiting conditions that favors quantitative measurement of the AA concentration on a rotating disk electrode. We demonstrate the utility of the electrochemically active Fc‐SAM to probe the mechanism and to determine the kinetic parameters of an enzymatic reaction. The electrochemical technique was compared to a conventional spectrophotometric method of ALP activity detection using p‐nitrophenylphosphate (p‐NPP) as a substrate. We demonstrate that our new technique is also suitable for the analytical determination of ALP activity. The detection limits for both AAP and ALP were found to be 13 μM and 2 pM, respectively.     

Electronic Structure Trends in N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) with Varying Number of Nitrogen Atoms and NHC?Transition‐Metal Bond Properties

Carbenes derived from five‐membered heterocycles with different numbers of nitrogen atoms ranging from two to four lead formally either to normal N‐heterocyclic or mesoionic carbenes with, in some cases, the same skeletal structure. The electronic structures of fourteen of these compounds were examined by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level. The examined parameters include the energies of the σ‐lone pair at C_carbene and the π‐HOMO of the protonated form, which are correlated to the first and second proton affinities. The singlet–triplet energy gap was used as a measure of the stability of the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) towards dimerisation. Natural population analysis provided insight into the variation of the p_π population and the natural charge at C_carbene with NHC structure. Additionally, the transition metal? NHC bond in L‐AuCl and L‐TiCl₄ and the nature of the orbital interactions between the NHC and the transition‐metal fragment were analysed in detail by the extended transition state–natural orbitals for chemical valence (ETS–NOCV) approach at the BP86/TZ2P level. Similarities and differences between the NHC? gold and the NHC? titanium bond are discussed, and trends in key bonding properties can be traced back to the variation of the electronic parameters of the NHC.     

N‐Phenyl‐substituted carbene precursors and their silver complexes: synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activities

A series of unsymmetrically substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors ( 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e ) were synthesized from the reaction of N‐phenylbenzimidazole with various alkyl halides. These compounds were used to synthesize NHC–silver(I) complexes ( 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e ). The five new 1‐phenyl‐3‐alkylbenzimidazolium salts ( 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e ) and their NHC–silver complexes ( 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e ) were characterized by the ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis techniques. Also, the two NHC–silver complexes 2b and 2c were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, which confirmed the linear C―Ag―Cl arrangements. The antibacterial activities of the NHC precursor and NHC–silver complexes were tested against three Gram‐positive bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and three Gram‐negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using the microdilution broth method. The NHC–silver complexes showed higher antibacterial activity than the NHC precursors. In addition, silver complexes 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d showed high antibacterial activity against the Gram‐positive bacteria L. monocytogenes and S. aureus compared to the standard, tetracycline. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Versatile Micropatterns of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes on Gold Surfaces: Increased Thermal and Pattern Stability with Enhanced Conductivity

Patterned monolayers of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on gold surfaces were obtained by microcontact printing of NHC–CO₂ adducts and NHC(H)[HCO₃] salts. The NHC‐modified areas showed an increased conductivity compared to unmodified gold surface areas. Furthermore, the remaining surface areas could be modified with a second, azide‐functionalized carbene, facilitating further applications and post‐printing modifications. Thorough elucidation by a variety of analytical methods offers comprehensive evidence for the viability of the methodology reported here. The protocol enables facile access to versatile, microstructured NHC‐modified gold surfaces with highly stable patterns, enhanced conductivity, and the option for further modification.     

Rhodium(I) and Silver(I) Complexes of 4, 5‐Dicyano‐1, 3‐dimesityl‐ and 4, 5‐Dicyano‐1, 3‐dineopentylimidazol‐2‐ylidene

The new N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors 4, ‐dicyano‐1, ‐dimesityl‐ ( 9 ) and 4, 5‐dicyano‐1, 3‐dineopentyl‐2‐(pentafluorophenyl)imidazoline ( 14 ) were synthesized. The structure of 9 could be determined by X‐ray crystallography. With the 2‐pentafluorophenyl‐substituted imidazolines 9 and 14 , the [AgCl(NHC)], [RhCl(COD)(NHC)], and [RhCl(CO)₂(NHC)] complexes [NHC = 4, 5‐dicyano‐1, 3‐dimesitylimidazol‐2‐ylidene ( 3 ) and 4, 5‐dicyano‐1, 3‐dineopentylimidazol‐2‐ylidene ( 4 )] were obtained. Crystal structures of [AgCl( 3 )] ( 15 ), [RhCl(COD)( 3 )] ( 17 ), [RhCl(COD)( 4 )] ( 18 ), and [RhCl(CO)₂( 3 )] ( 19 ) were solved and with the crystal data of 19 , the percent buried volume ( %V_bur) of 31.8(±0.1) % was determined for NHC 3 . Infrared spectra of the imidazolines 9 and 14 and of the complexes 15 – 20 were recorded and the CO stretching frequencies of complexes 19 and 20 were used to determine the Tolman electronic parameters of the newly obtained NHCs 3 (TEP: 2060 cm^–1) and 4 (TEP: 2061 cm^–1), thus proving that 1, 3‐substitution of maleonitrile‐NHCs does not have a significant effect for the high π‐acceptor strength of these carbenes.     

Polymer‐supported metal complexes as antibacterial agents: synthesis,characterization and thermal degradation kinetics

Polymeric metal complexes were prepared using a synthesized novel terpolymer ligand involving anthranilic acid–o‐toluidine–formaldehyde by a polycondensation technique. The synthesized ligand and its metal complexes were characterized using elemental analysis and molar conductivity measurements, and FT‐IR, electronic, electron spin resonance and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectral methods. The surface morphology and the nature of the synthesized compounds were examined using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The thermal stabilities of the ligand and its metal complexes were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). From the TGA results, various kinetic parameters, i.e. activation energy and order of reaction, and thermodynamic parameters, i.e. entropy change, apparent entropy, frequency factor and free energy change, were determined using the Freeman–Carroll and Sharp–Wentworth methods. In addition, a thermal degradation model was also proposed using the Phadnis–Deshpande method. The thermal stability of the ligand and its metal complexes was found to be appreciably high; in particular, the ligand showed very high stability compared to its metal complexes due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds were subjected to in vitro antibacterial studies with various microorganisms. The results of the studies confirmed that the compounds showed better antibacterial results than a standard antibacterial drug. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidative degradation of the organometallic iron(II) complex [Fe{bis[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl]methane}(MeCN)(PMe3)](PF6)2: structure of the ligand decomposition product trapped via coordination to iron(II)

Iron is of interest as a catalyst because of its established use in the Haber–Bosch process and because of its high abundance and low toxicity. Nitrogen‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are important ligands in homogeneous catalysis and iron–NHC complexes have attracted increasing attention in recent years but still face problems in terms of stability under oxidative conditions. The structure of the iron(II) complex [1,1′‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐2,2‐bi(1H‐imidazole)‐κN³][3,3′‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl‐κN)‐1,1′‐methanediylbi(1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl‐κC²)](trimethylphosphane‐κP)iron(II) bis(hexafluoridophosphate), [Fe(C₁₇H₁₄N₆)(C₁₆H₁₂N₆)(C₃H₉P)](PF₆)₂, features coordination by an organic decomposition product of a tetradentate NHC ligand in an axial position. The decomposition product, a C—C‐coupled biimidazole, is trapped by coordination to still‐intact iron(II) complexes. Insights into the structural features of the organic decomposition products might help to improve the stability of oxidation catalysts under harsh conditions.     

A ToF‐SIMS investigation of a buried polymer/polymer interface exposed by ultra‐low‐angle microtomy

The interfacial region of a model multilayer coating system on an aluminium substrate has been investigated by high‐resolution time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS). Employing ultra‐low‐angle microtomy (ULAM), the interface between a poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVdF)‐based topcoat and a poly(urethane) (PU)‐based primer ‘buried’ >20 µm below the PVdF topcoat's air/coating surface was exposed. Imaging ToF‐SIMS and subsequent post‐processing extraction of mass spectra of the ULAM‐exposed interface region and of the PVdF topcoat and PU primer bulks indicates that the material composition of the polymer/polymer interface region is substantially different to that of the bulk PVdF and PU coatings. Analysis of the negative ion mass spectra obtained from the PVdF/PU interface reveals the presence of a methacrylate‐based component or additive at the interface region. Reviewing the topcoat and primer coating formulations reveals that the PVdF topcoat formulation contains methyl methacrylate (MMA)–ethyl acrylate (EA) acrylic co‐polymer components. Negative ion ToF‐SIMS analysis of an acrylic co‐polymer confirms that it is these components that are observed at the PVdF/PU interface. Post‐processing extraction of ToF‐SIMS images based on the major ions of the MMA–EA co‐polymers reveals that these components are observed in high concentration at the extremities of the PVdF coating, i.e. at the polymer/polymer interface, but are also observed to be distributed evenly throughout the bulk of the PVdF topcoat. These findings confirm that a fraction of the MMA–EA acrylic co‐polymers in the formulation segregate to the topcoat/primer interface where they enhance the adhesive properties exhibited by the PVdF topcoat towards the underlying PU primer substrate. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.