Biological polymers, such as proteins and DNA, readily demonstrate how a unique polymer sequence can lead to exquisite function and selectivity in terms of catalysis, molecular recognition and data storage. Likewise, control of primary structure has far reaching implications for the future of synthetic polymers, but methodologies for their preparation remain limited. In this presentation, a new and general strategy for the synthesis of sequence-defined polymers is detailed that employs relay metathesis to promote the polymerization of programmed macrocyclic sequences. A small molecule �polymerization trigger� has been designed that allows for facile sequence incorporation and mediates the controlled, unidirectional polymerization of the macrocyclic monomer. Using this system, a diverse range of sequences can be polymerized with high levels of control over polymer molecular weight and molecular weight distribution.

Development of sequence-controlled polymers using a relay metathesis strategy

248th National Meeting (2014)

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