A versatile approach to the synthesis of polyphosphazene derivatives via the thiol–ene reaction

The thiol–ene radical addition reaction has been successfully used to synthesize polyphosphazene derivatives. Polybis(allylamino)phosphazene] with pendant allyl groups was reacted with different thiol reagents under UV irradiation. These thiol reagents include 1‐pentanethiol, 3‐mercaptopropionic acid, 3‐mercapto‐1,2‐propane‐diol, and 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐1‐thio‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose. ¹H NMR analyses confirm that the allyl polyphosphazene can be quantitatively modified by the mercaptans. In total, 100% conversion of the allyl groups was reached in <60 min toward the first three mercaptans, whereas about 80% conversion of the allyl groups was reached after 120‐min reaction toward the thioglucose. This method is a facile route for the synthesis of functional polyphosphazenes without the needs for protection/deprotection procedures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012