A novel and modular strategy has been developed for the preparation of reactive and functionalized hydrogels. In this strategy, thiol-epoxy coupling chemistry was employed for the formation of a hydrophilic network. The hydroxyl groups, generated during the coupling process, were then engaged in anchoring a fluorescent probe to the hydrogel scaffold.

No abstract

A modular approach toward the synthesis of polymers containing dendron groups as side chains is developed using the Diels–Alder “click” reaction. For this purpose, a styrene‐based polymer appended with anthracene groups as reactive side chains was synthesized. First through third‐generation polyester dendrons containing furan‐protected maleimide groups at their focal point were synthesized. Facile, reagent‐free, thermal Diels–Alder cycloaddition between the anthracene‐containing polymer and latent‐reactive dendrons leads to quantitative functionalization of the polymer chains to afford dendronized polymers. The efficiency of this functionalization step was monitored using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and FTIR and UV–vis spectrometry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 410–416, 2010

A novel N-hydroxy succinimide-based carbonate monomer that allows direct synthesis of polymers incorporating a reactive carbonate group in the side chain was synthesized. This new monomer was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) methylether methacrylate using free-radical polymerization to obtain organo-and water-soluble reactive copolymers. Copolymerization of the activated carbonate monomer with an azide-containing monomer and N-hydroxy succinimide-containing activated ester monomer provided orthogonally functionalizable copolymers. The pendant reactive carbonate groups of the copolymers were functionalized with amines to obtain carbamates. Polymers capable of orthogonal functionalization could be selectively functionalized as desired using subsequent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition or amidation reactions. The novel monomer and the copolymers were characterized by 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The efficient stepwise orthogonal functionalization of the copolymers were examined via 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. V C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: [4737][4738][4739][4740][4741][4742][4743][4744][4745][4746] 2010