New method for exploring deactivation kinetics in copper-catalyzed atom-transfer-radical reactions

Inorg Chem. 2014 Nov 3;53(21):11351-3. doi: 10.1021/ic5022005. Epub 2014 Oct 13.

Abstract

Copper polyamine complexes are among the most utilized catalysts for controlled radical polymerization reactions. Copper(I) complexes may react reversibly with an alkyl halide to form an alkyl radical, which promotes polymerization, and a copper(II) halido complex in a step known as activation. The kinetics of the reverse reaction between the alkyl radical and higher oxidation-state copper complex (deactivation) are less studied because these reactions approach diffusion-controlled rates, and it is difficult to isolate or quantify the concentration of the alkyl radical (R(•)) in situ. Herein we report a broadly applicable electrochemical technique for simultaneously measuring the kinetics of deactivation and kinetics of activation.