Michael, P., et al. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2015, 54 (47), 13918-13922, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201505678
Triggering CuAAC reaction by mechanical force enables site- and stress-specific “click” reactions. We introduce the design and realization of a homogeneous Cu catalyst able to activate through mechanical force when attached to suitable polymer chains. Based on an N-heterocyclic copper(I) carbene with attached polymeric chains of different flexibility, the force is transmitted to the central catalyst, thereby activating a CuAAC in solution and in the solid state. Reproduced with permission. Copyright 2015©, WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.