In collaboration with Prof. D. Haddleton we developed the use of copper schiff base complexes in atom tranasfer radical polymerisation. We showed that the addition of phenols (traditional radical inhibitors) could increase the rate of ATRP.

Very recently in collaboration with Prof. R. O'Reilly we have introduced a new class of catalyst system based upon CuSO₄ and KBH₄ that can polymerise a range of monomers in a controlled manner.

 

Relevant Publications

Atom Transfer Cyclization with CuSO₄ / KBH₄: a formal AGET process also applicable to ATRP. A. J. Clark, A. E. C Collis, D. J. Fox, L. L. Halliwell, N. James, R, K. O´Reilly, H. Parekh, A. Ross, A. B. H. Willcock, and P. Wilson. J. Org. Chem., 2012, 77, 6778-6788.

Ligand Electronic Effects on Rates of Copper Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Cyclisation and Polymerisation. A. J. Clark, G. M. Battle, D. M. Haddleton, A. M. Hemming and A. Bridge, Tetrahedron Lett. 2001, 42, 2003-6.

Atom transfer polymerisation of methyl methacrylate: Use of chiral aryl /alkyl pyridylmethanamine ligands; with copper (I) bromide and as structurally characterised chiral copper (I) complexes. D. M. Haddleton, D. D. Duncalf, D. Kukulj, A. M. Heming , A. J. Shooter, A. J. Clark, J. Materials Chem. 1998, (8)7, 1525.

First structurally authenticated inorganic polymers of CuBr and CuI containing chiral bidentate N-donor 1ligands. Use of Schiff base 2,2’-bis[(4S)-4-benzyl-2-oxazoline] as Ligand. D. M. Haddleton, D. D. Duncalf, A. J. Clark, M. C. Crossman, D. Kukulj. New J. Chem. 1998, 315-317.

[N-Alkyl-(2-pyridyl)methanimine]copper(I) Complexes: Characterisation and Application as Catalysts for Atom-Transfer Polymerisation. D. M. Haddleton, D. J. Duncalf, D. Kukulj, M. C. Crossman, S. G. Jackson, S. A. F. Bon, A. J. Clark, A. J. Shooter, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 1998, 1799-1806.

Copper Diimine complexes: the synthesis and crystal structures of [Cu(C₁₀H₁₄N₂)₂(MeOH)][BF₄],[Cu(C₁₀H₁₄N₂)₂]Br, [{Cu(C₁₀H₁₄N₂)₂CuBr(m-OMe)}₂(MeOH)], [{Cu(C₁₀H₂0N₂)₂CuBr(m-OMe)}₂]. D. M. Haddleton, A. J. Clark, D. D. Duncalf, A. M. Heming, D. Kukulj, A. J. Shooter, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans, 1998, 381-385.

Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate in the presence of radical inhibitors. A. J. Clark, M. C. Crossman, D. J. Duncalf, D. M. Haddleton, S. R. Morsley, A. J. Shooter, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1997, 1734-1735.