title: Precision PEGylated polymers obtained by sequence-controlled copolymerization and postpolymerization modification.
abstract: Copolymers containing water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains and precisely controlled functional microstructures were synthesized by sequence-controlled copolymerization of donor and acceptor comonomers, that is, styrene derivatives and N-substituted maleimides. Two routes were compared for the preparation of these structures: a) the direct use of a PEG-styrene macromonomer as a donor comonomer, and b) the use of an alkyne-functionalized styrenic comonomer, which was PEGylated by copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition after polymerization. The latter method was found to be the most versatile and enabled the synthesis of high-precision copolymers. For example, PEGylated copolymers containing precisely positioned fluorescent (e.g. pyrene), switchable (e.g. azobenzene), and reactive functionalities (e.g. an activated ester) were prepared.
authors.affiliation: Precision Macromolecular Chemistry Group, Institut Charles Sadron, CNRS-UPR 22, 23 rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2 (France).
authors.forename: Sansanee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srichan
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: Nezha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badi
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lutz
keywords: alkyne-azide cycloaddition; donor-acceptor copolymerization; postpolymerization modification; sequence-controlled polymers; water-soluble polymers