Abstract
In the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) technique, the suggested polymerization scheme is pivoted by a metal complex acting as a redox catalyst able to coordinate with the incipient radicals. The development of an a priori criterion of choice of the best (complex + solvent) combination is one of the current topics in this field. In this context we performed polarographic investigations on copper complexes with multidentate amino ligands (TMEDA and Me6TREN, plus acetonitrile as a reference) in water and in water + acetonitrile mixed solvents. In the latter case we took into account the competition between the co-solvent acetonitrile [a weaker ligand, but concentrated, selectively stabilizing Cu(I)], and the polyamine [a stronger ligand, but diluted, preferentially stabilizing Cu(II)], achieving further stabilization of the complexed copper, with a narrow potential range of stability as Cu(I), which is modulated through the acetonitrile/polyamine ratio. An interpretative scheme is presented.
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Silvestro, G.D., Yuan, C.M. & Mussini, P.R. Competitive Complexation by Ligand and Solvent: Polarographic Characterization of ATRP Catalyst Polyamine–Copper Complexes in Acetonitrile + Water Mixed Solvents. Journal of Solution Chemistry 33, 923–940 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOSL.0000048045.72710.9a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOSL.0000048045.72710.9a