Gegenhuber Thomas, Schenzel Alexander M, Goldmann Anja S, Zetterlund Per B, Barner-Kowollik Christopher
School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2017 Sep 26;53(77):10648-10651. doi: 10.1039/c7cc06347d.
We introduce the facile synthesis of segmented copolymers by a catalyst-free Diels-Alder (DA) reaction at ambient temperature via step-growth and subsequent reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. High molecular weight step-growth polymers are readily obtained (M = 40 000 g mol), featuring trithiocarbonate moieties in their chain, which allow monomer insertion via RAFT polymerization yielding high molecular weight species.