3-Methylenephthalide Derivatives Enable Vinyl (Co)polymers Degradable via Simultaneous Main-and Side-Chain Cleavage

Abstract

The selective cleavage of carbon-carbon bonds remains a fundamental challenge for polymeric materials with carbon backbones, including many vinyl polymers. Herein, we report functional vinyl (co)polymers synthesized from 3methylenephthalide analogs, cyclic vinyl monomers bearing various ester pendants. The (co)polymers were prepared via free-radical polymerization and exhibited tunable solubility and mechanical properties depending on the pendant ester structures. Upon hydrolysis under basic conditions, the polymers underwent simultaneous degradation of the main chain and pendant groups to afford a common backbone-derived monomer precursor. This study demonstrates a molecular design concept in which property diversification through copolymerization is decoupled from molecular convergence upon chemical degradation.