Cu-Catalyzed four-component polymerization of alkynes, sulfonyl azides, nucleophiles and electrophiles

Multicomponent polymerization has emerged as a promising strategy to develop functional polymers with versatile structures. In this work, a Cu-catalyzed four-component polymerization was developed using diynes, sulfonyl azides, nucleophiles, and a variety of electrophiles including alkyl glyoxylates, nitroalkenes, and Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts to successfully synthesize a library of α-functionalized poly(N-sulfonylimidates)s with a wide substrate scope and high molecular weights (up to 20 000 g mol⁻¹) in high yields (up to 86%). Such α-functionalized poly(N-sulfonylimidates)s could be further post-modified or utilized for the design of multi-functional and biodegradable polymers.