Design and synthesis of novel "orthogonally" functionalizable maleimide-based styrenic copolymers.

Polymers containing maleimide groups on their side chains have been synthesized by utilization of a novel styrenic monomer containing a masked-maleimide unit. AIBN initiated free radical polymerization and reverse addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was utilized for synthesis of copolymers containing masked maleimide groups as side chains. The maleimide groups were unmasked via the retro Diels-Alder reaction. Orthogonally functionalizable copolymers were obtained by copolymerization of the maleimide-based monomer with other reactive monomers to yield copolymers that are reactive towards thiol- and amine-containing molecules, or two different thiol-containing molecules sequentially via the nucleophilic thiol-ene and the free-radical thiol-ene "click" reactions.