Non‐activated Esters as Reactive Handles in Direct Post‐Polymerization Modification

Angewandte Chemie, vol. 135

Abstract

Abstract Non‐activated esters are prominently featured functional groups in polymer science, as ester functional monomers display great structural diversity and excellent compatibility with a wide range of polymerization mechanisms. Yet, their direct use as a reactive handle in post‐polymerization modification has been typically avoided due to their low reactivity, which impairs the quantitative conversion typically desired in post‐polymerization modification reactions. While activated ester approaches are a well‐established alternative, the modification of non‐activated esters remains a synthetic and economically valuable opportunity. In this review, we discuss past and recent efforts in the utilization of non‐activated ester groups as a reactive handle to facilitate transesterification and aminolysis/amidation reactions, and the potential of the developed methodologies in the context of macromolecular engineering.

Authors 4

1. Joachim F. R. Van Guyse Aachen

   Leiden University · Ghent University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research (LACDR) Leiden University Einsteinweg 55 2333 CC Leiden The Netherlands

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium

2. Yann Bernhard

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Ghent University · Laboratoire Lorrain de Chimie Moléculaire · Université de Lorraine

   Affiliation as printed

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium

   Université de Lorraine UMR CNRS 7053 L2CM Faculté des Sciences et Technologies BP 70239 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex France

3. Annelore Podevyn

   Ghent University

   Affiliation as printed

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium

4. Richard Hoogenboom corresponding

   Ghent University

   Affiliation as printed

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium

   Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 S4 9000 Ghent Belgium