Safe storage of radical initiators within a polyaromatic nanocapsule

Abstract

2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile and its derivatives are standard reagents for polymer and organic syntheses that generate radical species on stimuli by light or heat. Radical initiators like the azo compounds are unstable so that they should be kept in the dark at low temperature to avoid photochemical and thermal decomposition as well as accidental explosion. Here we report the spontaneous and quantitative encapsulation of the radical initiators by a supramolecular nanocapsule in aqueous solution. We demonstrate the remarkable stability of the initiators toward light and heat in the well-defined cavity shielded by the polyaromatic capsule shell. The incarcerated and stabilized initiators can be directly utilized for the radical polymerization of olefins on spontaneous release of the initiators from the capsule under the reaction conditions. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.