Living Anionic Copolymerization of 1-(Alkylsulfonyl)aziridines to Form Poly(sulfonylaziridine) and Linear Poly(ethylenimine)

The Anionic Polymerization of a tert-Butyl-Carboxylate-Activated Aziridine

N-Sulfonyl-activated aziridines are known to undergo anionic-ring-opening polymerizations (AROP) to form polysulfonyllaziridines. However, the post-polymerization deprotection of the sulfonyl groups from polysulfonyllaziridines remains challenging. In this report, the polymerization of tert-butyl aziridine-1-carboxylate (BocAz) is reported. BocAz has an electron-withdrawing tert-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) group on the aziridine nitrogen. The BOC group activates the aziridine for AROP and allows the synthesis of low-molecular-weight poly(BocAz) chains. A 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis of poly(BocAz) suggested that the polymer is linear. The attainable molecular weight of poly(BocAz) is limited by the poor solubility of poly(BocAz) in AROP-compatible solvents. The deprotection of poly(BocAz) using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) cleanly produces linear polyethyleneimine. Overall, these results suggest that carbonyl groups, such as BOC, can play a larger role in the in the activation of aziridines in anionic polymerization and in the synthesis of polyimines.

Synthesis of bottlebrush polymers based on poly(N-sulfonyl aziridine) macromonomers

We synthesized bottlebrush polymers with polyaziridine brushes and a polynorbornene backbone by a grafting-through approach. The polyaziridine macromonomer aggregates in solution, but these aggregates disperse over the course of the polymerization.

Tributylphosphine-catalyzed aziridine-based cycloaddition polymerization toward thiacyclic polymers

Cycloaddition polymerization of bis(N-sulfonyl aziridine)s with diisocyanates in the presence of tributylphosphine allows the facile synthesis of poly(thiazolidin-2-imine)s.

Catalyst-free aziridine-based step-growth polymerization: a facile approach to optically active poly(sulfonamide amine)s and poly(sulfonamide dithiocarbamate)s

Step-growth polymerization of chiral bis(N-sulfonyl aziridine)s with diamines or bis(dialkyldithiocarbamate) in the absence of a catalyst allows the facile synthesis of optically active polysulfonamide derivatives.

Well-Defined Poly(Ester Amide)-Based Homo- and Block Copolymers by One-Pot Organocatalytic Anionic Ring-Opening Copolymerization of N-Sulfonyl Aziridines and Cyclic Anhydrides

We report a new synthetic methodology for poly(ester amide)s by anionic ring-opening copolymerization of N-sulfonyl aziridines and cyclic anhydrides. Phosphazenes organocatalysts have been found to promote a highly-active, controlled, and selective alternating copolymerization in the absence of any competitive side reaction (zwitterionic mechanism and exchange transacylations). Mechanistic studies have shown first-order dependence of the copolymerization rate in N-sulfonyl aziridines and phosphazenes, and zero-order in cyclic anhydrides. This one-pot methodology leads not only to homopolymers but also to poly(ester amide)-based block copolymers. Two catalytic cycles involving ring-opening alternating copolymerization of N-sulfonyl aziridines with cyclic anhydrides and ring-opening polymerization of N-sulfonyl aziridines have been proposed to explain the one pot synthesis of poly(ester amide)-based homo- and block copolymers.

Solvent and catalyst-free modification of hyperbranched polyethyleneimines by ring-opening-addition or ring-opening-polymerization of N-sulfonyl aziridines

Ring-opening (polymerization) of N-sulfonyl aziridines with PEI under solvent/catalyst-free conditions allows the atom-economic synthesis of amphiphilic alkylated PEIs and luminescent PEI-graft-polysulfonamide.

Activated Monomer Polymerization of an N-Sulfonylazetidine

Previously, N-(methanesulfonyl)azetidine (MsAzet) was found to polymerize anionically via ring-opening at temperatures >100 °C to form p(MsAzet) in the presence of an anionic initiator. In the current report, potassium(azetidin-1-ylsulfonyl) methanide (KMsAzet), formed from deprotonation of the methanesulfonyl group of MsAzet by KHMDS, is shown to undergo spontaneous AROP at room temperature to form p(N-K-MsAzet). The structure of p(N-K-MsAzet) differs from that of p(MsAzet), as the sulfonyl groups are incorporated into the polymer backbone of p(N-K-MsAzet). Reaction of p(N-K-MsAzet) with MeOH produces p(N-H-MsAzet), a semicrystalline polymer with a structure like that of polyamides, but with sulfonylamides in place of the carboxamides found in polyamides. Reaction of p(N-K-MsAzet) with benzyl bromide results in the formation of amorphous p(N-Bn-MsAzet). P(N-K-MsAzet) is hypothesized to form via an activated monomer anionic polymerization; this is supported by polymerization kinetic data and structural characterization of the resulting polymers.

Linear Well-Defined Polyamines via Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Activated Aziridines: From Mild Desulfonylation to Cell Transfection

Linear polyethylenimine (L-PEI), a standard for nonviral gene delivery, is usually prepared by hydrolysis from poly(2-oxazoline)s. Lately, anionic polymerization of sulfonamide-activated aziridines had been reported as an alternative pathway toward well-defined L-PEI and linear polyamines. However, desulfonylation of the poly(sulfonyl aziridine)s typically relied on harsh conditions (acid, microwave) or used a toxic solvent (e.g., hexamethylphosphoramide). In addition, the drastic change of polarity requires solvents, which keep poly(sulfonyl aziridine)s as well as L-PEI in solution, and only a limited number of strategies were reported. Herein, we prepared 1-(4-cyanobenzenesulfonyl) 2-methyl-aziridine (1) as a monomer for the anionic ring-opening polymerization. It was polymerized to well-defined and linear poly(sulfonyl aziridine)s. The 4-cyanobenzenesulfonyl-activating groups were removed under mild conditions to linear polypropylenimine (L-PPI). Using dodecanethiol and diazabicyclo-undecene (DBU) allowed ≥98% desulfonylation and a reliable purification toward polyamines with high purity and avoiding main-chain scission. This method represents a fast approach in comparison to previous methods used for postpolymerization desulfonylation and produces linear well-defined polyamines. The high control over molecular weight and dispersities achieved by living anionic polymerization are the key advantages of our strategy, especially if used for biomedical applications, in which molecular weight might correlate with toxicity. The synthesized polypropylenimine was further tested as a cell-transfection agent and proved, with 16.1% transfection efficiency of the cationic nanoparticles, to be an alternative to L-PEI obtained from the 2-oxazoline route. This general strategy will allow the preparation of complex macromolecular architectures containing polyamine segments, which were not accessible before.

Aziridines and azetidines: building blocks for polyamines by anionic and cationic ring-opening polymerization

The synthesis of aziridine and azetidine monomers and their ring-opening polymerization via different mechanisms is reviewed.

Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of N-(tolylsulfonyl)azetidines To Produce Linear Poly(trimethylenimine) and Closed-System Block Copolymers

The anionic ring-opening copolymerization of N-( p-tolylsulfonyl)azetidine ( pTsAzet) and N-( o-tolylsulfonyl)azetidine ( oTsAzet) produces poly( pTsAzet- co- oTsAzet) as a statistical copolymer. The pTsAzet/ oTsAzet copolymerization is living and allows for the synthesis of poly(sulfonylazetidine) of target molecular weights with narrow dispersities. ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the kinetics of the polymerization and estimate the monomer reactivity ratios. It was found that the reactivity ratios for oTsAzet and pTsAzet at 180 °C are 1.66 and 0.60, respectively. The tosyl groups of p( pTsAzet- co- oTsAzet) were reductively removed to produce linear poly(trimethylenimine) (LPTMI). This represents the first route to LPTMI of controlled molecular weight and low dispersity. Finally, the slow kinetics of the sulfonylazetidine polymerization facilitated the synthesis of a block copolymer without requiring the sequential addition of monomer. Specifically, pTsAzet, oTsAzet, and ( N- p-toluenesulfonyl-2-methylaziridine) ( pTsMAz) were combined in solution. pTsMAz selectively polymerizes to form the first block at moderate temperature. After consumption of pTsMAz, the temperature was increased to copolymerize pTsAzet and oTsAzet and produce the block copolymer p( pTsMAz)- b-p( pTsAzet- co- oTsAzet).

Organocatalytic Ring-opening Polymerization Towards Poly(cyclopropane)s, Poly(lactame)s, Poly(aziridine)s, Poly(siloxane)s, Poly(carbosiloxane)s, Poly(phosphate)s, Poly(phosphonate)s, Poly(thiolactone)s, Poly(thionolactone)s and Poly(thiirane)s

The following chapter is a collection of monomers that undergo organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerizations and have not been covered in a separate chapter of this book. This includes polymers widely used in industrial applications, but also solely academically relevant and more “exotic” polymer classes. As most of these polymers contain heteroatoms in their backbone, the chapter is divided according to the respective heteroatoms. Each sub-section first gives a short introduction to the respective polymer or monomer properties and industrial applications (if available), followed by a brief summary of the traditional synthetic pathways. Afterwards, important milestones for the organocatalytic ROP are presented in chronological order. Special emphasis is put on the advantages and disadvantages of organocatalysis over traditional (ROP) methods on the basis of appropriate literature examples.

Microwave-Assisted Desulfonylation of Polysulfonamides toward Polypropylenimine

Linear polyethylenimine (L-PEI) has been the gold standard for gene delivery and is typically prepared by hydrolysis from poly(2-oxazoline)s. Recently, also the anionic polymerization of activated aziridines was reported as a potential pathway toward linear and well-defined polyamines. However, only sulfonamide-activated aziridines so far undergo the living anionic polymerization and their desulfonylation was only reported scarcely. This is mainly due to the relatively high stability of the sulfonamides and the drastic change in solubility during the desulfonylation. Herein, we investigated the desulfonylation of such poly(aziridine)s prepared from tosylated or mesylated propyleneimine to afford linear polypropylenimine (L-PPI) as an alternative to L-PEI. Different desulfonylation strategies for tosylated (Ts) and mesylated (Ms) PPI were studied. The reductive cleavage of the sulfonamide with sodium bis(2-methoxy ethoxy) aluminum hydride yielded 80% of deprotected amine groups. Quantitative conversion to L-PPI was obtained, when the tosylated PPI was hydrolyzed under acidic conditions with pTsOH under microwave (MW) irradiation. The same treatment removed 90% of the mesyl groups from the mesylated PPI analog. The MW-assisted acidic hydrolysis represents a fast, inexpensive and easy approach in comparison to other methods, where complex reaction conditions and tedious purifications are major drawbacks, however some chain scission may occur. The high purity of the obtained products, in combination with the versatility of the activated aziridine chemistry, demonstrate many advantages of our strategy, especially for future biomedical implementations.

The anionic ring-opening polymerization ofN-(methanesulfonyl)azetidine

The first anionic ring-opening polymerization of an activated azetidine is reported.

Full and partial hydrolysis of poly(2-oxazoline)s and the subsequent post-polymerization modification of the resulting polyethylenimine (co)polymers

This review discusses the full and partial hydrolysis of poly(2-oxazoline)s as well as the synthetic methods that have been reported to modify the resulting secondary amine groups.

Organocatalyzed Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerizations of N-Sulfonyl Aziridines with Organic Superbases

The anionic ring-opening polymerizations (AROPs) of N-sulfonyl aziridines, in the presence of organic superbases including phosphazene (t-Bu-P₄), Verkade's base (P(i-PrNCH₂CH₂)₃N, TiPP), DBU, MTBD, and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylguanidine (TMG), using N-benzyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (BnN(H)Ts) as initiator were explored to produce metal-free poly(sulfonylaziridine)s. Among the superbases used, the catalytic activity was found directly proportional to their basicity. Remarkably, t-Bu-P₄ and TiPP gave a living/controlled AROP of 2-methyl-N-tosylaziridine (TsMAz), where t-Bu-P₄ performed better, affording the metal-free and well-defined poly(sulfonylaziridine)s with high molar masses (M_n(SEC) > 30 kg mol^-1) and low dispersities (Đ < 1.10) in 3.5 h. For the less reactive monomers of 2-methyl-N-ethylsulfonyl aziridine (EsMAz) and 2-phenyl-N-tosylaziridine (TsPhAz), t-Bu-P₄ showed the same excellent catalytic efficiency (30 equiv, conv. > 95%, 5 h). The organocatalyzed AROP allowed the use of lower catalyst (t-Bu-P₄) loading than the amount of initiator (BnN(H)Ts), but the propagating polymer chains were as many as the number of equivalents of the introduced initiators, which could lower the loading of catalyst used to amounts as low as 0.05 mol %.

The living anionic polymerization of activated aziridines: a systematic study of reaction conditions and kinetics

The living anionic polymerization of sulfonyl aziridines is systematically studied by variation of solvents, temperatures, gegenions, and novel initiators.