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6. June 2020

Synthesis and Mechanochemical Activity of Peptide-Based Cu(I) Bis(N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes.

Funtan, S., et al. Biomimetics 2019,4 (1), 24,DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics4010024

With the class of shock-absorbing proteins, nature created some of the most robust materials combining both mechanical strength and elasticity.  Here, we report on the synthesis of two different latent mechanophoric copper(I) bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes bearing either two carboxyl groups or two amino groups which allow conjugation reactions with either the N- or the C-terminus of amino acids or peptides. Mechanochemical activation by ultrasound showed conversions in the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide “click” reaction (CuAAC) up to 9.9% proving the potential application for the time and spatial controlled CuAAC.