A series of symmetrical and asymmetrical novel tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) based ligands implementing electron donating groups were synthesized. The molecular structures of the corresponding copper(I) and copper(II) complexes indicated a wide variety of geometries in the solid state (Figure 1). Variable temperature NMR studies confirmed fluxionality of the substituted pyridine arms and dimerization in the case of copper(I) complexes. Furthermore, the reducing power of the copper complexes increased on the addition of each pyridyl scaffold containing electron donating groups. However, more reducing copper complexes were not found to be more active in ATRA and ATRP reactions when compared to unsubstituted TPMA. This was tentatively attributed side reactions such as radical coordination to the copper(I) centers.

Structure reactivity studies in ATRA and ATRP reactions catalyzed by copper complexes with substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine based ligands

248th National Meeting (2014)

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