Functional and Tuneable Amino Acid Polymers Prepared by RAFT Polymerization

We report the application of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization using a novel chain transfer agent toward the synthesis of a variety of copolymers containing proline-derived monomeric units. This methodology enables ready access to a number of polymeric species with narrow molecular weight distributions, reliable functional unit incorporations, and high conversions. The methodology is also a facile approach to novel copolymeric species incorporating amino acids, which possess unique material properties and the potential for further organocatalytic application.