Here, we exploit the selectivity of photoactivation of thiocarbonylthio compounds to implement two distinct organic and polymer synthetic methodologies: (1) a single unit monomer insertion (SUMI) reaction and (2) selective, controlled radical polymerization via a visible-light-mediated photoinduced electron/energy transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) process. In the first method, precise single unit monomer insertion into a dithiobenzoate with a high reaction yield (>97%) is reported using an organic photoredox catalyst, pheophorbide a (PheoA), under red light irradiation (λmax = 635 nm, 0.4 mW/cm(2)). The exceptional selectivity of PheoA toward dithiobenzoate was utilized in combination with another catalyst, zinc tetraphenylporphine (ZnTPP), for the preparation of a complex macromolecular architecture. PheoA was first employed to selectively activate a dithiobenzoate, 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate, for the polymerization of a methacrylate backbone under red light irradiation. Subsequently, metalloporphyrin ZnTPP was utilized to selectively activate pendant trithiocarbonate moieties for the polymerization of acrylates under green light (λmax = 530 nm, 0.6 mW/cm(2)) to yield well-defined graft co-polymers.
Vesicles breathe CO2! A new type of vesicle that self‐assembles from amidine‐containing diblock copolymer displays “breathing” features. Treating the vesicles with CO2 or Ar can reversibly tune the expansion and contraction of the vesicular volume, as if a bubble is breathing (see picture, PAD=poly((N‐amidino)dodecyl acrylamide), PEO=poly(ethylene oxide), Rh=hydrodynamic radius).
A novel methodology of visible light regulated ring opening polymerization in the presence of reversible merocyanine-based photoacid was reported for the first time. In combination with a photoinduced radical polymerization technique, a dual wavelength light controlled orthogonal polymerization system was investigated to switch the polymerization between two different monomers and for the preparation of block and graft copolymers in one pot.
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