Post-polymerization modification of well-defined precursor polymers is a versatile tool to obtain multifunctional water-soluble polymers that cannot be synthesized by common polymerization techniques. For the first time, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFIPMA) based homo and block copolymers were synthesized via RAFT polymerization to provide precise precursors for the postpolymerization modification of the 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl ester side chains with water-soluble amines (methoxy tri(ethylene glycol) amine, 2-hydroxypropyl amine and 3-(dimethylamino)-1propylamine). Sequential aminolysis using Oregon Green cadaverine first followed by 2-hydroxypropyl amine enables access to dye-labelled poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide) and aminolysis with 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylamine provides homo and block co-catiomers that complex pDNA in PBS. To this respect, poly(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate)s P(HFIPMA)s as precursor polymers may become an alternative route for the synthesis of multifunctional water-soluble polymers for advanced applications.

Tristriazolotriazines (TTTs) with a threefold alkoxyphenyl substitution were prepared and studied by DSC, polarized optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray scattering. Six pentyloxy chains are sufficient to induce liquid-crystalline behavior in these star-shaped compounds. Thermotropic properties of TTTs with varying substitution patterns and a periphery of linear chains of different lengths, branching in the chain and swallow-tails, are compared. Generally, these disks display broad and stable thermotropic mesophases, with the tangential TTT being superior to the radial isomer. The structure–property relationships of the number of alkyl chains, their position, length and structure were studied.

Tristriazolotriazines with azobenzene substitution and peripheral alkoxy‐ or alkylamino chains were prepared from the corresponding aryltetrazoles and cyanuric chloride. These star‐shaped dyes are highly acidochromic. Alkoxy‐substitution allows reversible trans‐cis photoswitching. Compounds with a 3,4‐dialkoxy substitution are discotic liquid crystals that form broad and stable thermotropic mesophases. The thermal behavior was studied by DSC and polarizing optical microscopy.