‘Click’ Chemistry in Polymer and Materials Science

TLDR

Click chemistry, particularly the metal‑catalyzed azide‑alkyne cycloaddition, offers a highly efficient (often >95 %) and functional‑group tolerant route for post‑polymerization modification at moderate temperatures (25–70 °C). This review surveys recent applications of click chemistry across polymer architectures—linear chains, dendrimers, gels—and surface functionalization of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, drawing on over 100 cited studies and the authors’ own work. A magnified image is included.

Abstract

Abstract The modification of polymers after the successful achievement of a polymerization process represents an important task in macromolecular science. Cycloaddition reactions, among them the metal catalyzed azide/alkyne ‘click’ reaction (a variation of the Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction between terminal acetylenes and azides) represents an important contribution towards this endeavor. They combine high efficiency (usually above 95%) with a high tolerance of functional groups and solvents, as well as moderate reaction temperatures (25–70 °C). The present review assembles recent literature for applications of this reaction in the field of polymer science (linear polymers, dendrimers, gels) as well as the use of this and related reactions for surface modification on carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and on solid substrates, and includes the authors own publications in this field. A number of references (>100) are included. magnified image