Transition metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization: toward perfection in catalysis and precision polymer synthesis

Radicals in transition metal catalyzed reactions? transition metal catalyzed radical reactions? a fruitful interplay anyway: part 1. Radical catalysis by group 4 to group 7 elements

This review summarizes the current status of radical-based transition metal catalyzed reactions in organic chemistry. The underlying features of radical generation from transition metal complexes and radical reactivity in the framework of transition metal catalysis are discussed. The available arsenal to detect radicals in transition metal catalyzed transformations is presented. Available strategies to combine radical intermediates with transition metal catalysis are outlined. In the main part the currently known synthetic methodology of transition metal catalyzed reactions proceeding via radical intermediates is discussed. This part covers catalytic radical reactions involving group 4 to group 7 elements.

Star and miktoarm star block (co)polymers viaself-assembly of ATRP generated polymer segments featuring Hamilton wedge and cyanuric acid binding motifs

The self-assembly of well-defined ATRP prepared polymers with terminal and mid-chain Hamilton wedge as well as cyanuric acid binding motifs is demonstrated to be an efficient avenue to star and miktoarm star block copolymers.

New micellar morphologies from amphiphilic block copolymers: disks, toroids and bicontinuous micelles

This review discusses recent advances of the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers into novel micellar architectures in dilute solutions. The formation of multi-compartment, disk-like, toroidal and bicontinuous micelles and the macromolecular architectures that give rise to these morphologies are reviewed and discussed.

Hybrid micro-/nanogels for optical sensing and intracellular imaging

Hybrid micro-/nanogels are playing an increasing important part in a diverse range of applications, due to their tunable dimensions, large surface area, stable interior network structure, and a very short response time. We review recent advances and challenges in the developments of hybrid micro-/nanogels toward applications for optical sensing of pH, temperature, glucose, ions, and other species as well as for intracellular imaging. Due to their unique advantages, hybrid micro-/nanogels as optical probes are attracting substantial interests for continuous monitoring of chemical parameters in complex samples such as blood and bioreactor fluids, in chemical research and industry, and in food quality control. In particular, their intracellular probing ability enables the monitoring of the biochemistry and biophysics of live cells over time and space, thus contributing to the explanation of intricate biological processes and the development of novel diagnoses. Unlike most other probes, hybrid micro-/nanogels could also combine other multiple functions into a single probe. The rational design of hybrid micro-/nanogels will not only improve the probing applications as desirable, but also implement their applications in new arenas. With ongoing rapid advances in bionanotechnology, the well-designed hybrid micro-/nanogel probes will be able to provide simultaneous sensing, imaging diagnosis, and therapy toward clinical applications.