title: A Mechanochemically Triggered "Click" Catalyst.
abstract: "Click" chemistry represents one of the most powerful approaches for linking molecules in chemistry and materials science. Triggering this reaction by mechanical force would enable site- and stress-specific "click" reactions--a hitherto unreported observation. We introduce the design and realization of a homogeneous Cu catalyst able to activate through mechanical force when attached to suitable polymer chains, acting as a lever to transmit the force to the central catalytic system. Activation of the subsequent copper-catalyzed "click" reaction (CuAAC) is achieved either by ultrasonication or mechanical pressing of a polymeric material, using a fluorogenic dye to detect the activation of the catalyst. Based on an N-heterocyclic copper(I) carbene with attached polymeric chains of different flexibility, the force is transmitted to the central catalyst, thereby activating a CuAAC in solution and in the solid state.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences II, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, von Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale) (Germany).
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences II, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, von Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale) (Germany). wolfgang.binder@chemie.uni-halle.de.
authors.forename: Wolfgang H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Binder
keywords: click chemistry; copper; mechanochemistry; self-healing materials