The dynamic interplay between macromolecular science and small molecule synthetic organic chemistry is illustrated through the development of iron-based alkoxide complexes used as polymerization catalysts and cross-coupling catalysts. Bis(imino)pyridine iron alkoxide complexes originally developed as redox-switchable catalysts for ring-opening polymerization reactions inspired organic chemists interested in small molecule synthesis to utilize similar complexes for their application in cross coupling reactions. Lessons learned in the development of iron-based catalysts used to synthesize block copolymers and crosslinked polymer networks were applied to cross coupling reactions between alkyl halides and aryl boronic esters. Catalyst optimization carried out in the cross-coupling reactions further inspired synthetic advances in redox-switchable polymerization reactions, which led to new catalyst precursors used for redox-switchable polymerization and depolymerization reactions. The talk will highlight the synthetic advances made in each field along with the interplay that the two teams enjoyed through the parallel development of these seemingly disparate fields of research.

Journeying from catalysts used for redox-switchable polymerization reactions to catalysts used for cross coupling reactions

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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