The “Click” chemistry paradigm focuses on highly efficient reactions that achieve quantitative conversion under mild conditions. These reactions in polymer chemistry allow unprecedented control over materials chemical and physical properties. One click reaction of great interest is the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) where the uniqueness of this reaction arises in the development of properties during polymerization. During the CuAAC the triazole adducts formed possess excellent thermal and chemical stability and the rigid-aromatic linkers should lead to a high glass transition temperature polymer. Furthermore, the step growth nature of the reaction results in the formation of a nearly ideal network structure with a narrow glass transition and few elastically ineffective chains. Lastly, the synergistic combination of the CuAAC with photochemical initiation can been used to afford both spatial and temporal control of polymer formation, structure and patterned assembly.<br/><br/>Herein, we discuss CuAAC photo-polymerized networks by exploring a variety of easily synthesized azide and alkyne monomers. Results show significant enhancements in the mechanical properties by incorporating carbamates and aromatic rings, which are capable of secondary interactions from hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions respectively. Additionally, the triazole moiety inherent to the CuAAC polymerization process shows a significant contribution to the mechanical properties specifically when compared to an analogues thiol-ene based material. With the growing number of multifunctional azide and alkyne monomers the photo-initiated CuAAC polymerization renders ideal for broad applications within polymer science including coatings, surface modification, and adhesives.

Photoinitiated Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) based networks

249th National Meeting (2015)

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