title: Regiospecific radical polymerization of a tetrasubstituted ethylene monomer with molecular oxygen for the synthesis of a new degradable polymer.
abstract: A new class of degradable polymers is obtained from a diene monomer and molecular oxygen as the starting materials via a highly controlled radical copolymerization process. We now report the regiospecific copolymerization of a tetrasubstituted ethylene monomer with oxygen. Theoretical calculations support the highly selective propagations observed during the polymerization. The key steps are the regiospecific reactions of a peroxy radical to diene monomers and an allyl radical to molecular oxygen. The well-controlled molecular structure of the resulting polymer leads to the aldehyde-free degradation products during degradation by various stimuli, such as heating.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan. matsumoto@a-chem.eng.osaka-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akikazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taketani