Fullerene-Attached Polymeric Homogeneous/Heterogeneous Photoactivators for Visible-Light-Induced CuAAC Click Reactions

Abstract

In this work, a visible-light-induced copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction via an electron transfer reaction employing fullerene (C60) containing linear polystyrene and network polymer as homogeneous and heterogeneous activators, PS-C60 and Gel-C60, respectively, is described. Various low molar mass organic and polymeric azide and alkyne compounds are used to conduct the click reaction, and almost quantitative yields are attained. Compared to the bare C60, the polymers with C60 units exhibited a much higher promoting effect to catalyze CuAAC reactions.