Post-Functionalization of Polymers via Orthogonal Ligation Chemistry

Multi-Functionalization of Polymers by Strain-Promoted Cycloadditions

We report here a synthetic route to oxime, azide and nitrone-bearing copolymers via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer copolymerization of 4-vinylbenzaldehyde and 1-(chloromethyl)-4-vinylbenzene with styrene. The azide and nitrone moieties could be employed in strain-promoted 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with various functionalized dibenzocyclooctynols (DIBO) for metal-free post-functionalization of the polymers. In situ oxidation of the oximes with hypervalent iodine gave nitrile oxides, which could also be employed as 1,3-dipoles for facile cycloadditions with DIBO derivatives. Kinetic measurements demonstrated that the pendant nitrile oxides reacted approximately twenty times faster compared to similar cycloadditions with azides. A block copolymer, containing azide and oxime groups in segregated blocks, served as a scaffold for attachment of hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties by sequential strain-promoted alkyne-azide and strain-promoted alkyne-nitrile oxide cycloadditions. This sequential bi-functionalization approach made it possible to prepare in a controlled manner multi-functional polymers that could self-assemble into well-defined nanostructures.

Single-chain self-folding of synthetic polymers induced by metal-ligand complexation

The controlled folding of a single polymer chain is for the first time realized by metal- complexation. α,ω-Bromine functional linear polymers are prepared via activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP (M¯n,SEC = 5900 g mol(-1) , Đ = 1.07 and 12 000 g mol(-1) , Đ = 1.06) and the end groups of the polymers are subsequently converted to azide functionalities. A copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction is carried out in the presence of a novel triphenylphosphine ligand and the polymers to afford homotelechelic bis-triphenylphosphine polymeric-macroligands (MLs) (M¯n,SEC = 6600 g mol(-1) , Đ = 1.07, and 12 800 g mol(-1) , Đ = 1.06). Single-chain metal complexes (SCMCs) are formed in the presence of Pd(II) ions in highly diluted solution at ambient temperature. The results derived via (1) H and (31) P{(1) H} NMR experiments, SEC, and DLS unambiguously evidence the efficient formation of SCMCs via metal ligand complexation.