Synlett 2022; 33(15): 1481-1485
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1737456
synpacts

Advancing the Logic of Polymer Synthesis via Skeletal Rearrangements

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Maxim Ratushnyy
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This work was funded by the generous startup funds provided by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A.V.Z. is also supported by the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award. This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. DGE-1650116, Graduate Research Fellowship for R.A.J.D.).


Dedicated to the late Robert H. Grubbs

Abstract

Polymers are ubiquitous materials that have driven technological innovation since the middle of the 20th century. As such, the logic that guides polymer synthesis merit considerable attention. Thus far, this logic has often been ‘forward-synthetic’, which constrains the accessible structures of polymer materials. In this article, we emphasize the benefits of ‘retrosynthetic’ logic and posit that the development of skeletal rearrangements of polymer backbones is central to the realization of this logic. To illustrate this point, we discuss two recent examples from our laboratory – Brook and Ireland–Claisen rearrangements of polymer backbones – and contextualize them in prior reports of sigmatropic rearrangements and skeletal rearrangements of polymers. We envision that further development of skeletal rearrangements of polymers will enable advances in not only the chemistry of such rearrangements and the logic of polymer synthesis, but also polymer re- and upcycling.



Publication History

Received: 22 March 2022

Accepted after revision: 05 April 2022

Article published online:
29 April 2022

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