Alternating copolymerization by nitroxide-mediated polymerization and subsequent orthogonal functionalization

Abstract

A novel method for the preparation of functionalized alternating copolymers is presented. Nitroxide-mediated polymerization of hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate with 7-octenyl vinyl ether provides the corresponding alternating polymer, which can be chemically modified using two orthogonal polymer-analogous reactions. A thiol-ene click reaction followed by amidation provides dual-functionalized alternating copolymers. The potential of this method is illustrated by the preparation of a small library (15 examples) of functionalized alternating copolymers.

Keywords: active esters; alternating polymerization; nitroxide-mediated polymerization; orthogonal functionalization; thiol-ene reactions.