A novel coil-first/grafting-from approach was developed for the synthesis of conjugated rod–coil block copolymers using RuPhos Pd-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst-transfer polycondensation (SCTP). First, aryl iodide end-functionalized polystyrene (PS) was prepared as a macroinitiator for SCTP via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) followed by sequential end-group modifications, azidation, and click reactions. Then, RuPhos Pd-catalyzed SCTP using the PS macroinitiator was carried out in the presence of N-methyliminodiacetic acid boronate-containing 3-hexylthiophene monomer (M1), and this afforded well-defined PS-block-poly­(3-hexylthiophene) with excellent control and high yield. The scope of this method was successfully expanded to include poly­(methyl acrylate)-, poly­(methyl methacrylate)-, and poly­(ethylene oxide)-block-poly­(3-hexylthiophene) with controlled molecular weight and low dispersity. Further, the combination of the conventional rod-first and newly developed coil-first approaches facilitated the straightforward synthesis of a unique ABC-type rod–coil–rod triblock copolymer that was limitedly accessible by other methods. We believe that this efficient and readily accessible synthetic platform would be highly useful for the preparation of novel conjugated rod–coil block copolymers that can be applied in optoelectronics, battery engineering, and chemical sensing.

Zinc-glutarate (ZnGA) is a promising catalyst that can form polymers from CO2 and epoxides, thereby contributing to the development of CO2 utilization technologies and future sustainability. One of the obstacles...

Palladium catalysts modified with iminopyridine ligands were employed for ethylene/CO and styrene/CO copolymerization and ethylene/styrene/CO terpolymerization. Our studies revealed that the steric and electronic effects of the catalysts play key, yet distinct roles in these polymerization reactions. The thermal properties of the polyketones were engineered by varying the styrene content in terpolymers derived from ethylene, styrene, and CO sources, with increased styrene ratios yielding reduced polyketone crystallinity.

Precise control of multiple structural parameters associated with vinyl polymers is important for producing materials with the desired properties and functions. While the development of living polymerization methods has provided a way to control the various structural parameters of vinyl polymers, the concomitant control of their sequence and regioregularity remains a challenging task. To overcome this challenge, herein, we report the living cationic ringopening polymerization of hetero Diels-Alder adducts. The scalable and modular synthesis of the cyclic monomers was achieved by a one-step protocol using readily available vinyl precursors. Subsequently, living polymerization of the cyclic monomers was examined, allowing the synthesis of vinyl polymers while controlling multiple factors, including molecular weight, dispersity, alternating sequence, head-to-head regioregularity, and end-group functionality. The living characteristics of the developed method were further demonstrated by block copolymerization. The synthesized vinyl polymers exhibited unique thermal properties and underwent fast photodegradation even under sunlight.

Precise control of multiple structural parameters associated with vinyl polymers is important for producing materials with the desired properties and functions. While the development of living polymerization methods has provided a way to control the various structural parameters of vinyl polymers, the concomitant control of their sequence and regioregularity remains a challenging task. To overcome this challenge, herein, we report the living cationic ringopening polymerization of hetero Diels-Alder adducts. The scalable and modular synthesis of the cyclic monomers was achieved by a one-step protocol using readily available vinyl precursors. Subsequently, living polymerization of the cyclic monomers was examined, allowing the synthesis of vinyl polymers while controlling multiple factors, including molecular weight, dispersity, alternating sequence, head-to-head regioregularity, and end-group functionality. The living characteristics of the developed method were further demonstrated by block copolymerization. The synthesized vinyl polymers exhibited unique thermal properties and underwent fast photodegradation even under sunlight.