Click
reactions have provided access to an array of remarkably
complex polymer architectures. However, the term “click”
is often applied inaccurately to polymer ligation reactions that fail
to respect the criteria that typify a true “click” reaction.
With the purpose of providing a universal way to benchmark polymer–polymer
coupling efficiency at equimolarity and thus evaluate the fulfilment
of click criteria, we report a simple one-pot methodology involving
the homodicoupling of α-end-functionalized polymers using a
small-molecule bifunctional linker. A combination of SEC analysis
and chromatogram deconvolution enables straightforward quantification
of the coupling efficiency. We subsequently employ this methodology
to evaluate an overlooked candidate for the click reaction family:
the addition of primary amines to α-tertiary isocyanates (α-tNCO). Using our bifunctional linker coupling
strategy, we show that the amine–tNCO reaction fulfills the criteria for a polymer–polymer click
reaction, achieving rapid, chemoselective, and quantitative coupling
at room temperature without generating any byproducts. We demonstrate
that amine–tNCO coupling is faster
and more efficient than the more common amine–tertiary active
ester coupling under equivalent conditions. Additionally, we show
that the α-tNCO end group is unprecedentedly
stable in aqueous media. Thus, we propose that the amine–tNCO ligation is a powerful new click reaction
for efficient macromolecular coupling.