Modular synthesis of well-defined macromolecular architectures: Employment of "click" reactions in polymer chemistry

?Click? chemistry, and the copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of azides and terminal alkynes in particular, has recently taken a tremendous flight in the field of polymer chemistry. One of the main reasons for this revolution stems from the fact that scientists want to gain control over polymer structures in order to adapt to a specific application environment. Nowadays, a wide range of living and controlled polymerization techniques is available to prepare polymer architectures with a large variety of distinct topologies, functionality, predetermined degree of polymerization and narrow molecular weight distribution. In combination with specific and efficient coupling chemistry, like a "click" reaction, macromolecular architectures can be synthesized which are hard to assess otherwise. In this respect "click" chemistry absolutely has added value in polymer science... This book reviews the use of the copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of azides and alkynes along with the controlled radical polymerization technique atom transfer radical polymerization. This methodology was applied in order to prepare AB and ABC type block copolymers, macrocyclic polymers and to attach biomolecules.

Dr. Joost Opsteen studied chemistry at the Raboud University Nijmegen where he also obtained his PhD degree. After a postdoctorial period in the bio-organic chemistry department in collaboration with the orthopaedic research laboratory of the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, he moved to industry. He is currently working at Encapson B.V.