Metal-Free Photoinduced Decarboxylative Radical Polymerization Using Carboxylic Acids as Benign Radical Initiators: Introduction of Complex Molecules into Polymer Chain Ends

Abstract

Metal-free photoinduced decarboxylative radical polymerization of aliphatic carboxylic acids with a variety of monomers was found to proceed smoothly to give the corresponding polymers under mild conditions. Complex carboxylic acids such as those of sugars, steroids, and peptides can function as benign radical initiators via decarboxylation and can be incorporated at the polymer chain ends. This synthetic methodology represents a facile introduction of molecules and functionalities to polymers by using commercially available carboxylic acids.