Sequence‐Controlled Polymers via Simultaneous Living Anionic Copolymerization of Competing Monomers. Issue 10 (13th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rieger, Elisabeth; Alkan, Arda; Manhart, Angelika; Wagner, Manfred; Wurm, Frederik R.
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 37:Issue 10(2016)
• Page Start: 833
• Page End: 839
• Publication Date: 2016-04-13
• Subjects: anionic polymerization -- aziridines -- copolymerization -- ring‐opening polymerization -- sequence‐controlled polymers; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201600092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract : Natural macromolecules, i.e., sequence‐controlled polymers, build the basis for life. In synthetic macromolecular chemistry, reliable tools for the formation of sequence‐controlled macromolecules are rare. A robust and efficient chain‐growth approach based on the simultaneous living anionic polymerization of sulfonamide‐activated aziridines for sequence control of up to five competing monomers resulting in gradient copolymers is presented. The simultaneous azaanionic copolymerization is monitored by real‐time 1 H NMR spectroscopy for each monomer at any time during the reaction. The monomer sequence can be adjusted by the monomer reactivity, depending on the electron‐withdrawing effect by the sulfonamide (nosyl‐, brosyl‐, tosyl‐, mesyl‐, busyl) groups. This method offers unique opportunities for sequence control by competing copolymerization: a step forward to well‐engineered synthetic polymers with defined microstructures. Abstract : The competing anionic polymerization of up to five different aziridine monomers is studied. Monomer reactivity can be efficiently adjusted in order to generate copolymers with a defined sequence.