Natural polymers such as nucleic acids and proteins are the blue print of the living world with repeat unit sequences perfectly reproduced from molecule to molecule. It is this absolute control over the specificity of monomer sub-units that directs the secondary and tertiary structure and, in turn, form and function. However, sequence control in synthetic polymers is a subject that has until recently been almost totally neglected. Some progress has been made in the synthesis of short copolymer sequences prepared via complex and time consuming processes involving protection/condensation/deprotection chemistry but little research has been carried out in the field of sequence-controlled chain growth polymerization. One method of controlling monomer sequence distribution is through kinetic control arising from differential monomer reactivity. We present herein a series of anionic copolymerisations using diphenylethylene (DPE) and its derivatives which enable the synthesis of perfect alternating copolymers (see MALDI analysis), sequence controlled terpolymers and telechelic polymers.

Controlling monomer sequence distribution in living anionic (co)polymerization

246th National Meeting (2013)

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