Mechanically facilitated retro [4+2] cycloadditions.

Poly(methyl acrylate)s (PMAs) of varying molecular weights were grown from a [4+2] cycloaddition adduct of maleimide with furan containing two polymerization initiators. Subjecting the corresponding PMA (>30 kDa) chains to ultrasound at 0 °C resulted in a retro [4+2] cycloaddition reaction, as observed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and UV-vis spectroscopy, as well as labeling of the liberated maleimide and furan moieties with appropriate chromophores featuring complementary functional groups. Similar results were obtained by sonicating analogous polymers that were grown from a thermally robust [4+2] cycloaddition adduct of maleimide with anthracene.

Functional, star polymeric molecular carriers, built from biodegradable microgel/nanogel cores.

Acid and disulfide biodegradable cross-linkers have been employed to generate microgel star polymers, using RAFT-polymer arms. RAFT end-groups were then exploited to attach functional compounds via both thiol-ene and thiol-pyridyl disulfide exchange reactions.

A facile route to end-functionalised polymers synthesised by SET-LRP via a one-pot reduction/thiol-ene Michael-type addition.

We report the facile synthesis of well defined, disulfide containing polymers via SET-LRP. A one-pot reduction/conjugation reaction enables post polymerisation modification with functional (meth)acrylates and acrylamides.

Antibacterial effects of poly(2-(dimethylamino ethyl)methacrylate) against selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Antimicrobial coatings can reduce the occurrence of medical device-related bacterial infections. Poly(2-(dimethylamino ethyl)methacrylate) (pDMAEMA) is one such polymer that is being researched in this regard. The aims of this study were to (1) elucidate pDMAEMA's antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and (2) to investigate its antimicrobial mode of action.

Glycopolymers via catalytic chain transfer polymerisation (CCTP), Huisgens cycloaddition and thiol-ene double click reactions.

CCTP has been used to give alkyne-functional macromonomers which are subsequently functionalised with sugar azides and thiols, using both CuAAC and thiol-ene Michael addition reactions, to yield end-functionalised glycopolymers in a convenient manner.