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Sequence‐Controlled Polymers via Simultaneous Living Anionic Copolymerization of Competing Monomers
Author(s) -
Rieger Elisabeth,
Alkan Arda,
Manhart Angelika,
Wagner Manfred,
Wurm Frederik R.
Publication year - 2016
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.201600092
Subject(s) - copolymer , monomer , sequence (biology) , macromolecule , polymer , polymer chemistry , living anionic polymerization , reactivity (psychology) , polymerization , anionic addition polymerization , chemistry , sulfonamide , combinatorial chemistry , materials science , polymer science , organic chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
Natural macromolecules, i.e., sequence‐controlled polymers, build the basis for life. In synthetic macromolecular chemistry, reliable tools for the formation of sequence‐controlled macromolecules are rare. A robust and efficient chain‐growth approach based on the simultaneous living anionic polymerization of sulfonamide‐activated aziridines for sequence control of up to five competing monomers resulting in gradient copolymers is presented. The simultaneous azaanionic copolymerization is monitored by real‐time 1 H NMR spectroscopy for each monomer at any time during the reaction. The monomer sequence can be adjusted by the monomer reactivity, depending on the electron‐withdrawing effect by the sulfonamide (nosyl‐, brosyl‐, tosyl‐, mesyl‐, busyl) groups. This method offers unique opportunities for sequence control by competing copolymerization: a step forward to well‐engineered synthetic polymers with defined microstructures.