The Mechanism of Photoreduction of Copper Ions Complexed to Amine-Terminated Functionalities S. F. Shuler, H. Wan, K. J. Smith, and S. C. Street MINT Center and Department of Chemistry
This project was supported by the MRSEC program & shared equipment from NSF-DMR-02-13985
Motivation Probe Molecules for Investigating Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies on G0 PAMAM Photoreduction Mechanism Cu2+ (H O) (complex A) Cu2+-(N)-(NH) (complex B)
Dendrimers are highly branched, three-dimensional globular
macromolecules that have distinct characteristics and properties.1
The chemical functionalities of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) or
gII = 2.390 gII = 2.30
poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimers provide sites for metal
cation coordination. Subsequent chemical reduction, usually with
sodium borohydride, produces metallic-dendrimer nanocomposites.
An alternative method for reducing metal ions has become known
through employing UV photoreduction to the metal ion-dendrimercomplex without the need of additional reactants. Researchers
stated the idea of photodecomposition of the dendrimer that yields
carbonyl compounds that may induce reduction.2
mechanism of the photoreduction process has not been investigated
In this study, we focus our attention on determining the source of
electrons within the dendrimers that are used to reduce the metal
Several molecules with amine functionalities were used to investigate
(1) Tomaila, D. A.; Naylor, A. M.; Goddard, W. A. Angew Chem. Int. Ed. 1990, 29, 138-175.
the mechanism of the photoreduction process. However, only the 1-
hydroxyurea molecule complexed with Cu2+ ions. TEM images
(2) Esumi, K.; Suzuki, A.; Aihara, N.; Usui, K.; Torigoe, K. Langmuir 1998, 14, 3157-3159.
EPR results show the localized nitrogen environment changing upon
revealed the metal-hydroxyurea complex did not produce any
complexation with Cu2+ as a function of pH. Acidic conditions protonate
nanoparticles after irradiation with UV light.
coordination sites (e.g., tertiary and primary amines) and prevent Cu2+ from complexation. At neutral or slightly basic conditions, the terminal primaryamines may undergo protonation to a small extent, but the tertiary amines are
Dendrimers as Functional Components Photochemical Reduction Cu & G4 PAMAM Conclusions Cu & G4 PAMAM (irradiated)
Results have shown that there are crucial
Cu2+ & G4
criteria in the photoreduction process: (1)
60 hr irradiated
coordination and the number of amine sites
N radical
are critical for particle formation; (2) tertiary
and secondary amines contribute major roles
in providing electrons for reducing Cu2+ from
Wavelength (nm) Contact Information Cu & G5 PPI Cu2+ & G5 PPI (irradiated) Haiying Wan
EPR spectra (above) of a) Cu2+ with G0 dendrimer before irradiation Cu2+ & G5 wan002@bama.ua.edu Number of Number of Number of Molecular
and b) Cu2+ with G0 dendrimer after 45 min irradiation in toluene at 77
Dendrimer 60 hr irradiated secondary tertiary amines
K. Irradiation was conducted with a mercury lamp (λ
Shelby Shuler shule001@bama.ua.edu
UV-vis spectra (right) of Cu2+ complexed with PAMAM and PPI
dendrimers. Reduction of Cu2+ is evident (PAMAM solution) with
Dr. Shane Street
increasing slope, which strongly suggests aggregation among Cu
sstreet@bama.ua.edu Wavelength (nm)
atoms. Reduction of Cu2+ is not as evident (PPI solution) since the before and after irradiation appears similar.
“G” is define as generation. Center for Materials for Information Technology The University of Alabama an NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
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