Design of highly active iron-based catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization: tridentate salicylaldiminato ligands affording near ideal Nernstian behavior.

Iron(II) complexes bearing monoanionic tridentate salicyladiminato ligands are shown to be highly efficient catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Polymerization rates for styrene are among the highest reported for iron-mediated ATRP in nonpolar media, correlating well with E1/2 potentials and DeltaEp values for the complexes. The rigidity of the tridentate ligands, combined with ample space around the metal center to accommodate a halogen atom, we believe to be an important factor in the efficient ATRP behavior of these systems.