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RAFT Polymerization and Thiol Chemistry: A Complementary Pairing for Implementing Modern Macromolecular Design
Author(s) -
Roth Peter J.,
Boyer Cyrille,
Lowe Andrew B.,
Davis Thomas P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201100127
Subject(s) - raft , chain transfer , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , polymerization , thiol , chemistry , polymer , macromolecule , polymer chemistry , living polymerization , radical polymerization , end group , organic chemistry , biochemistry
Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is one of the most extensively studied reversible deactivation radical polymerization methods for the production of well‐defined polymers. After polymerization, the RAFT agent end‐group can easily be converted into a thiol, opening manifold opportunities for thiol modification reactions. This review is focused both on the introduction of functional end‐groups using well‐established methods, such as thiol‐ene chemistry, as well as on creating bio‐cleavable disulfide linkages via disulfide exchange reactions. We demonstrate that thiol modification is a highly attractive and efficient chemistry for modifying RAFT polymers.