Construction of Functional Macromolecules with Well-Defined Structures by Indium-Catalyzed Three-Component Polycoupling of Alkynes, Aldehydes, and Amines

Controlling molecular weight and polymer architecture during the Passerini three component step-growth polymerization

A new approach to control the molecular weight and polymer architecture using the Passerini three-component step-growth polymerization is described.

Multicomponent sequential polymerizations of alkynes, carbonyl chloride and amino ester salts toward helical and luminescent polymers

Sequential coupling-hydroamination polymerizations toward helical and luminescent polymers.

Functional isocoumarin-containing polymers synthesized by rhodium-catalyzed oxidative polycoupling of aryl diacid and internal diyne

Functional polymers with in situ generated isocoumarin units were constructed facilely by rhodium-catalyzed polymerization of aryl diacid and internal diyne.

BCl3-mediated polycoupling of alkynes and aldehydes: a facile, metal-free multicomponent polymerization route to construct stereoregular functional polymers

BCl₃-mediated alkyne–aldehyde polymerization to stereoregular functional polymers in a facile, metal-free and multicomponent manner.

Design and synthesis of novel PEG-conjugated 20(S)-camptothecin sulfonylamidine derivatives with potent in vitro antitumor activity via Cu-catalyzed three-component reaction

In our continuing search for camptothecin (CPT)-derived antitumor drugs, novel structurally diverse PEG-based 20(S)-CPT sulfonylamidine derivatives were designed, synthesized via a Cu-multicomponent reaction (MCR), and evaluated for cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A-549, MDA-MB-231, KB, and KBvin). All of the derivatives showed promising in vitro cytotoxic activity against the tested tumor cell lines, and were more potent than irinotecan. Significantly, these derivatives exhibited comparable cytotoxicity against KBvin, while irinotecan was less active against this cell line. With a concise efficient synthesis and potent cytotoxic profiles, especially significant activity towards KBvin, these compounds merit further development as a new generation of CPT-derived PEG-conjugated drug candidates.

A palladium-catalysed multicomponent coupling approach to conjugated poly(1,3-dipoles) and polyheterocycles

Conjugated polymers have emerged over the past several decades as key components for a range of applications, including semiconductors, molecular wires, sensors, light switchable transistors and OLEDs. Nevertheless, the construction of many such polymers, especially highly substituted variants, typically involves a multistep synthesis. This can limit the ability to both access and tune polymer structures for desired properties. Here we show an alternative approach to synthesize conjugated materials: a metal-catalysed multicomponent polymerization. This reaction assembles multiple monomer units into a new polymer containing reactive 1,3-dipoles, which can be modified using cycloaddition reactions. In addition to the synthetic ease of this approach, its modularity allows easy adaptation to incorporate a range of desired substituents, all via one-pot reactions.

The requirement for multistep synthesis can render the fabrication of highly substituted polymers particularly troublesome. Here, the authors take advantage of metal-catalysed multicomponent polymerization to synthesize a large family of such materials with ease from single-pot reactions.

Construction of regio- and stereoregular poly(enaminone)s by multicomponent tandem polymerizations of diynes, diaroyl chloride and primary amines

An atom-economical multicomponent tandem polymerization was developed to afford multifunctional regio- and stereoregular conjugated poly(enaminone)s.

Aldehyde–alkyne–amine (A3) coupling catalyzed by a highly efficient dicopper complex

A dicopper(i) complex was developed as highly efficient catalyst for A³ coupling reactions, which led to the formation of propargylamines.

C3 functionalization of indolizines via In(iii)-catalyzed three-component reaction

Post-functionalization at the C3 position of indolizines via In(iii)-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction with amines and aldehydes allowed rapid access to a new class of indolizines with diverse functional groups at the C3 position in good to excellent yields.

The Ugi reaction in polymer chemistry: syntheses, applications and perspectives

The well-known Ugi reaction is becoming a novel, efficient and useful tool to prepare multifunctional polymers.

Synthesis of indole-based functional polymers with well-defined structures via a catalyst-free C–N coupling reaction

Poly(N-arylene diindolylmethane)s with high molecular weights have been synthesized by a catalyst-free C–N coupling reaction, which exhibit outstanding fluorescence and promising cross-linked film-forming ability.

Indium-catalyzed polycyclotrimerization of diynes: a facile route to prepare regioregular hyperbranched polyarylenes

The facile and efficient InCl₃/2-iodophenol-catalyzed polycyclotrimerization of diynes to generate regioregular hyperbranched polyarylenes was successfully established.

AIE macromolecules: syntheses, structures and functionalities

A comprehensive review of macromolecules with aggregation-induced emission attributes is presented, covering the frontiers of syntheses, structures, functionalities and applications.