A convergence of photo‐bergman cyclization and intramolecular chain collapse towards polymeric nanoparticles

Employing enediynes as crosslinking precursors, a novel yet efficient strategy, namely photo‐triggered Bergman cyclization, was integrated with intramolecular chain collapse to yield polymeric nanoparticles with the size regime below 20 nm. Enediyne motif was designed delicately to possess a high photo‐reactivity, with the double bond locked in a methyl benzoate ring while triple bonds substituted with phenyls. Single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization was conducted to provide linear acrylate copolymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. Poly(butylarylate‐co‐ 5 ) went through UV‐irradiation with a concurrent Bergman cyclization, resulting in well‐defined ultrafine polymeric nanoparticles. Results from NMR, Raman scattering, photoluminescence and UV‐vis spectra corroborated the presence of conjugative structures in the polymeric nanoparticles, indicating the occurrence of photo‐induced Bergman cyclization. A series of other acrylate‐based nanoparticles were investigated to confirm the applicability of such a unique strategy in thermal sensitive but UV‐stable polymeric structures, making photo‐Bergman cyclization a promising tool towards polymeric nanoparticles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011