ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Towards the development of highly active copper catalysts for atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) and polymerization (ATRP)

Tomislav Pintauer

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 308 Mellon Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

E-mail: pintauert@duq.edu

Abstract: Fundamentals of copper catalyzed atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) and mechanistically similar polymerization (ATRP) were discussed. Special emphasis was placed on structural characterization and electrochemical properties of copper complexes. Recent advances in the development of highly active copper complexes for both processes were also reviewed. It was found that electrondonating groups (methoxy and methyl in the 4 and 3,5 positions, respectively) of the pyridine rings in tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) ligand, significantly increase the catalytic activity in copper mediated ATRA/ATRP.

Keywords: ATRA – ATRP – copper catalyzed – nitrogen based ligands – homogeneous catalysis – structural characterization – electrochemical properties

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1515/chempap-2015-0183

Chemical Papers 70 (1) 22–42 (2016)