Biopolymers such as DNA store information in their chains using controlled sequences of monomers. Here we describe a non-natural information-containing macromolecule that can store and retrieve digital information. Monodisperse sequence-encoded poly(alkoxyamine amide)s were synthesized using an iterative strategy employing two chemoselective steps: the reaction of a primary amine with an acid anhydride and the radical coupling of a carbon-centred radical with a nitroxide. A binary code was implemented in the polymer chains using three monomers: one nitroxide spacer and two interchangeable anhydrides defined as 0-bit and 1-bit. This methodology allows encryption of any desired sequence in the chains. Moreover, the formed sequences are easy to decode using tandem mass spectrometry. Indeed, these polymers follow predictable fragmentation pathways that can be easily deciphered. Moreover, poly(alkoxyamine amide)s are thermolabile. Thus, the digital information encrypted in the chains can be erased by heating the polymers in the solid state or in solution.
International audienceMonodisperse sequence-coded oligo(alkoxyamine amide)s were thoroughly investigated by tandem mass spectrometry to evaluate the robustness of this analytical approach as a reliable sequencing methodology. Studied samples were synthesized by orthogonal iterative chemistry on a solid support, and the 0/1 coding system was based on the mass of two amide synthons that alternate with a nitroxide moiety. The major fragmentation pathway experienced by these co-oligomers proceeded via homolysis of all fragile C-ON bonds between a coding unit and a nitroxide moiety. The relative rate of competing C-ON bond cleavages was observed to be sequence-dependent, offering an additional means to validate the sequences reconstructed from the MS/MS fragments. The same fragmentation rules applied for all studied samples, varying in terms of chain length, charge state, encoded sequence, end-groups, and nitroxide moiety. Ion mobility separation was coupled to MS/MS to sequence some more complex co-oligomers composed of both different nitroxides and coding units
The synthesis of “precision” polymers with finely controlled molecular structures is an important new development in synthetic polymer chemistry. This trend is the logical outcome of the continuing evolution of the field of polymer synthesis. Indeed, during the last few decades, synthetic tools, such as living ionic polymerizations, controlled radical polymerizations, and click chemistry, have revolutionized the synthesis of polymers with controlled architectures such as block, graft, star, brush, hyperbranched or cyclic polymers. These aspects being solved, it is now time for polymer chemists to address more challenging questions such as the design of monodisperse polymers and the control of primary (i.e., comonomer sequences), secondary (i.e., single‐chain folding), and tertiary (i.e., single‐chain compartmentalization) structures. Here, new synthetic tools have to be developed or imported from other disciplines such as organic chemistry and biochemistry. For instance, solid‐phase iterative chemistry, which was initially introduced for the synthesis of oligopeptides and oligonucleotides, is an interesting methodology for preparing monodisperse sequence‐defined polymers. However, such approaches are usually time‐consuming and request demanding coupling/capping/deprotection steps. Yet, interesting protecting‐group‐free methodologies have been described in recent years for simplifying and accelerating these processes. These promising new approaches are briefly listed and explained in this article.
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