We developed a powerful and highly reliable cascade functionalization technique for constructing sophisticated macromolecular architectures. Central to the technique are the ambident agents having combined functions of a nitrile N-oxide group and an electrophile. The agents proved capable of facile catalyst- and solvent-free functionalization of polymers and further integrations involving cross-linking.
A catalyst- and solvent-free synthesis of cyclodextrin-based polyrotaxanes exploiting a stable nitrile N-oxide as an end-capping agent was achieved. The C-C bond-forming end-capping reaction of an allyl-terminated pseudopolyrotaxane with the nitrile N-oxide proceeded smoothly by solid-state grinding in a mortar to afford a polyrotaxane.
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