Replacing Cu(II)Br2 with Me6-TREN in Biphasic Cu(0)/TREN Catalyzed SET-LRP Reveals the Mixed-Ligand Effect

Biomacromolecules. 2020 Jan 13;21(1):250-261. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01282. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Abstract

The mixed-ligand system consisting of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) and tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine (Me6-TREN) during the Cu(0) wire-catalyzed single electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) of methyl acrylate (MA) in "programmed" biphasic mixtures of the dipolar aprotic solvents NMP, DMF, and DMAc with H2O is reported. Kinetic and chain end analysis studies by NMR and MALDI-TOF before and after thio-bromo "click" reaction demonstrated that Me6-TREN complements and makes the less expensive TREN a very efficient ligand in the absence of externally added Cu(II)Br2. Statistical analysis of the kinetic data together with control experiments demonstrated that this mixed-ligand effect enhanced the apparent rate constant of propagation, monomer conversion, and molecular weight control. The most efficient effect was observed at a 1/1 molar ratio between these two ligands, suggesting that in addition to a fast exchange between the two ligands, a new single dynamic ligand generated by hydrogen bonding may be responsible for the mixed ligand observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Ethylenediamines / chemistry*
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Polymerization*
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate / chemistry
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Ethylenediamines
  • Ligands
  • Solvents
  • Water
  • tris(2-aminoethyl)amine
  • Copper
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate