A dimethacrylate cross-linker cleavable under thermolysis or alkaline hydrolysis conditions: synthesis, polymerization, and degradation

Abstract

We develop a new platform based on 2,6-pyridinediethanol diesters for introducing polymer degradability under thermolysis or alkaline hydrolysis conditions, with the latter being rare in polymers. Such labile diesters can be cross-linkers, bifunctional initiators and inimers. We demonstrate the power of this platform through the synthesis of the 2,6-pyridinediethanol dimethacrylate cross-linker, its controlled (co)polymerization, and the thermal and hydrolytic cleavage of its (co)polymers.