Living ring-opening polymerization of N-sulfonylaziridines: synthesis of high molecular weight linear polyamines

Sulfonylaziridines have been identified as excellent monomers for living ring-opening polymerization initiated by nucleophilic sulfonylamides. The resulting polymers exhibit low polydispersities and controllable molecular weights. The enantiopurity of the monomer plays a key role: racemic samples yield soluble polymers of target molecular weights, while enantiopure samples produce insoluble polymers with molecular weights significantly below theoretical values. Dynamic light scattering and kinetics of polymerization are discussed.