Sequence-Controlled Polymers with Furan-Protected Maleimide as a Latent Monomer.

Herein, a novel methodology for preparing sequence-controlled polymers is illustrated by using a latent monomer, furan protected maleimide (FMI). At 110 °C, FMI is deprotected by retro Diels-Alder (rDA) reaction, and the released MI is immediately involved in the cross-polymerization with styrene (St) to deliver heterosegments. At 40 °C the rDA reaction does not proceed, therefore homo-poly(styrene) segments are produced. By implementing programmable temperature changes during polymerization of St and FMI, "living" polymers with tailored a sequence are created. A ternary copolymerization produces complex sequences as designed. Alkynyl-functionalized FMI, used as a latent monomer, leads to the desirable placement of functional groups along the polymer chain. This latent-monomer-based strategy opens a new avenue for fabricating sequence-controlled polymers.