Detection of stress in polymers: mechanochemical activation of CuAAC click reactions in poly(urethane) networks

Abstract

We report on copper(I)-bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)s (NHC) for quantitative stress-sensing, embedded within polyurethane networks, triggering a fluorogenic copper(I) azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) of 8-azido-2-naphtol and 3-hydroxy phenylacetylene. A completely transparent, force responsive poly(urethane) material is generated, allowing a quantification of the applied stress.