Design of highly active iron-based catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization: tridentate salicylaldiminato ligands affording near ideal Nernstian behavior

Rachel K O'Reilly; Vernon C Gibson; Andrew J P White; David J Williams

doi:10.1021/ja035458q

Design of highly active iron-based catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization: tridentate salicylaldiminato ligands affording near ideal Nernstian behavior

J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Jul 16;125(28):8450-1. doi: 10.1021/ja035458q.

Authors

Rachel K O'Reilly¹, Vernon C Gibson, Andrew J P White, David J Williams

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK, SW7 2AZ.

PMID: 12848547
DOI: 10.1021/ja035458q

Abstract

Iron(II) complexes bearing monoanionic tridentate salicyladiminato ligands are shown to be highly efficient catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Polymerization rates for styrene are among the highest reported for iron-mediated ATRP in nonpolar media, correlating well with E1/2 potentials and DeltaEp values for the complexes. The rigidity of the tridentate ligands, combined with ample space around the metal center to accommodate a halogen atom, we believe to be an important factor in the efficient ATRP behavior of these systems.