Scroll Top

Sigmatropic Rearrangements of Polymer Backbones: Vinyl Polymers from Polyesters in One Step


Sigmatropic Rearrangements of Polymer Backbones: Vinyl Polymers from Polyesters in One Step

Abstract
Polymer modification is a fundamental scientific challenge, as a means of both upcycling plastics and extracting a stimulus response from them. To date, the overwhelming majority of polymer modifications has focused on the polymer periphery. Herein, we demonstrate nearly quantitative, scission-free modification of polymer backbones, namely, a metamorphosis of polyesters into vinyl polymers resembling commodity materials via the Ireland–Claisen sigmatropic rearrangement. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal stability of the polyesters undergo dramatic changes post-transformation. Beyond polymer modification, our work advances the application of retrosynthetic analysis in polymer synthesis; the nontraditional production of vinyl polymers from lactones opens the door to a slew of previously inaccessible materials.

Citation
Sigmatropic Rearrangements of Polymer Backbones: Vinyl Polymers from Polyesters in One Step Rachael A. J. Ditzler and Aleksandr V. Zhukhovitskiy Journal of the American Chemical Society Article ASAP DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c09657


Privacy Preferences
When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in form of cookies. Here you can change your privacy preferences. Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we offer.