Atom transfer radical addition transition metal catalyzed

The addition of halocarbons (RX) across alkene double bonds in a radical chain process, the Kharasch reaction (Scheme 9.29),261 has been known to organic chemistry since 1932. The overall process can be catalyzed by transition metal complexes (Mt"-X) it is then called Atom Transfer Radical Addition (ATRA) (Scheme 9.30).262... 

Transition metal-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition Atom transfer radical polymerization Equilibrium constant for atom transfer Activation rate constant for atom transfer Deactivation rate constant for atom transfer 2,2 -Bipyridine... 

This catalytic sequence is known as Kharasch addition or atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) [4]. Various polyhalogenated compounds such as CCI4 and CCI3CO2R are used as the organic halides, and transition metal salts or complexes are used as the catalyst [3]. Intramolecular version of the Kharasch addition reaction (atom transfer radical cyclization, ATRC) has opened novel synthetic protocols to the synthesis of carbocyde or heterocyles catalyzed by transition metals [5-7], and this has become a very important field in free radical cydization in organic synthesis. Transition metal-catalyzed Kharasch reactions sometimes afford telomers or poly-... 

A parallel development was initiated by the first publications from Sawamoto and Matyjaszweski. They reported independently on the transition-metal-catalyzed polymerization of various vinyl monomers (14,15). The technique, which was termed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), uses an activated alkyl halide as initiator, and a transition-metal complex in its lower oxidation state as the catalyst. Similar to the nitroxide-mediated polymerization, ATRP is based on the reversible termination of growing radicals. ATRP was developed as an extension of atom transfer radical addition (ATRA), the so-called Kharasch reaction (16). ATRP turned out to be a versatile technique for the controlled polymerization of styrene derivatives, acrylates, methacrylates, etc. Because of the use of activated alkyl halides as initiators, the introduction of functional endgroups in the polymer chain turned out to be easy (17-22). Although many different transition metals have been used in ATRP, by far the most frequently used metal is copper. Nitrogen-based ligands, eg substituted bipyridines (14), alkyl pyridinimine (Schiff s base) (23), and multidentate tertiary alkyl amines (24), are used to solubilize the metal salt and to adjust its redox potential in order to match the requirements for an ATRP catalyst. In conjunction with copper, the most powerful ligand at present is probably tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)]amine (Mee-TREN) (25). 

ATRP is an extension of atom transfer radical addition (ATRA), which is a well-known method of carbon-carbon bond formation (catalyzed by transition metal complexes) in organic synthesis. ATRP also has roots in the transition metal catalyzed telomerization reactions (Boutevin,... 

Like all controlled radical polymerization processes, ATRP relies on a rapid equilibration between a very small concentration of active radical sites and a much larger concentration of dormant species, in order to reduce the potential for bimolecular termination (Scheme 3). The radicals are generated via a reversible process catalyzed by a transition metal complex with a suitable redox manifold. An organic initiator (many initiators have been used but halides are the most common), homolytically transfers its halogen atom to the metal center, thereby raising its oxidation state. The radical species thus formed may then undergo addition to one or more vinyl monomer units before the halide is transferred back from the metal. The reader is directed to several comprehensive reviews of this field for more detailed information. 

Some radical reactions occur under the control of transition metal templates. The first example of asymmetric creation of an asymmetric carbon with a halogen atom is shown by the a DIOP-Rh(I) complex-catalyzed addition of bromotrichloromethane to styrene, which occurs with 32% enantioselectivity (Scheme 99) (233). Ru(II) complexes with DIOP or BINAP ligands promote addition of arenesulfonyl chlorides to afford the products in 25-40% ee (234). A reaction mechanism involving radical redox transfer chain process has been proposed. 

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