A facile route to segmented copolymers by fusing ambient temperature step-growth and RAFT polymerization

Abstract

We introduce the facile synthesis of segmented copolymers by a catalyst-free Diels–Alder (DA) reaction at ambient temperature via step-growth and subsequent reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. High molecular weight step-growth polymers are readily obtained (M_w = 40 000 g mol⁻¹), featuring trithiocarbonate moieties in their chain, which allow monomer insertion via RAFT polymerization yielding high molecular weight species.