Photoinduced Copper( I)-Catalyzed Click Chemistry by the Electron Transfer Process Using Polynuclear Aromatic Compounds

Based on electron-transfer reactions of the excited states of polynuclear aromatic compounds, such as anthracene, pyrene, and phenothiazine and Cu(II), a long-wavelength photoinduced copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction is developed. Although at different rates, all the sensitizers are shown to efficiently reduce Cu(II) to Cu(I), which catalyzes the click reaction between small organic compounds. The applicability of the method for the construction of various macromolecular architectures, including telechelic polymers and block copolymers is demonstrated. Spectroscopic and chromatographic investigations reveal that successful macromolecular syntheses are achieved. <boxed-text content-type="graphic" position="anchor"> <graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="urn:x-wiley:10221352:media:macp201400010:macp201400010-abs-0001">image</graphic