Highly efficient catalytic performance on CuAAC reaction by polymer‐like supramolecular self‐assemblies‐Cu(I) in aqueous solution

Abstract

A series of AA/BB types of cyclodextrin‐based supramolecular polymers (CD‐SP 1, 2, 3, and 4) have been constructed and characterized, which employed as ligands to accelerate the copper(I)‐catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) using the conventional Sharpless–Fokin catalyst (CuSO4 + Na ascorbate) for the first time. Among them, the bridged‐maleic‐2‐β‐CD (CD = cyclodextrin)@bridged‐maleic‐2‐Ada (Ada = adamantane) (CD‐SP 4) self‐assembly shows more effective catalytic activity for CuAAC of azide and acetylene at 40 mol ppm of Cu(I) in water with excellent yields and remarkable TON (turnover number) values (up to 23,750). CD‐SP 4 can be fully recycled, and the catalyst can be reused efficiently for 10 times with negligible loss of catalyst activity. Therefore, it may extend the potential applications of cyclodextrin‐based supramolecular polymers in green chemical synthesis.