RAFT polymerization of a novel activated ester monomer and conversion to a terpyridine-containing homopolymer

Developing new materials with unique properties for nanotechnology applications, in general, and supramolecular polymers, in particular, lie at the heart of much ongoing research. In line with these efforts, we have been exploring polymers containing terpyridine (terpy) in the side chain. Here we report a new monomer that effectively undergoes reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) to yield high-molecular-weight (Mn) polymers with narrow polydispersity (PDI). The monomer is an N-succinimide activated ester of p-vinyl benzoic acid. Under RAFT conditions, poly(N-succinimide p-vinylbenzoate)s were generated, with Mn ranging between 44 and 61 kDa and PDI of 1.03–1.07. One of these homopolymers was reacted with an amine functionalized terpy, creating a new homopolymer containing terpy ligands on every monomer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5618–5625, 2007