title: Diels-Alder reactions as an efficient route to high purity cyclic polymers.
abstract: A simple and efficient route for the synthesis of cyclic polymer systems is presented. Linear furan protected α-maleimide-ω-cyclopentadienyl functionalized precursors (poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(tert-butyl acrylate)) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and subsequent substitution of the bromine end-group with cyclopentadiene. Upon heating at high dilution, deprotection of the dieneophile occurs followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction yielding a high purity cyclic product.
authors.affiliation: Preparative Macromolecular Chemistry, Institut für Technische Chemie und Polymerchemie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engesserstrasse 18, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glassner
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Blinco
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barner-Kowollik
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D011108:Polymers; C532460:poly(tert-butyl acrylate); D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate