Precision PEGylated Polymers Obtained by Sequence‐Controlled Copolymerization and Postpolymerization Modification |
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| Authors: | Sansanee Srichan Dr Hatice Mutlu Dr Nezha Badi Dr Jean‐François Lutz |
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| Affiliation: | Precision Macromolecular Chemistry Group, Institut Charles Sadron, CNRS‐UPR 22, 23 rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2 (France) |
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| Abstract: | Copolymers containing water‐soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains and precisely controlled functional microstructures were synthesized by sequence‐controlled copolymerization of donor and acceptor comonomers, that is, styrene derivatives and N‐substituted maleimides. Two routes were compared for the preparation of these structures: a) the direct use of a PEG–styrene macromonomer as a donor comonomer, and b) the use of an alkyne‐functionalized styrenic comonomer, which was PEGylated by copper‐catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition after polymerization. The latter method was found to be the most versatile and enabled the synthesis of high‐precision copolymers. For example, PEGylated copolymers containing precisely positioned fluorescent (e.g. pyrene), switchable (e.g. azobenzene), and reactive functionalities (e.g. an activated ester) were prepared. |
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| Keywords: | alkyne– azide cycloaddition donor– acceptor copolymerization postpolymerization modification sequence‐controlled polymers water‐soluble polymers |
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