Terpyridines as supramolecular initiators for living polymerization methods

Bis(5,5″-bis(bromomethyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine), bis-4′-(4-bromomethylphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and 4-hydroxymethyl-5′,5″-dimethyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine metal complexes have been used as initiators for the living polymerization of 2-oxazolines and L-lactides. In both cases polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions have been obtained. In-line diode array GPC measurements of iron(II) complexed poly(ethyloxazoline)s showed an unexpected absence of fragmentation. Viscosity experiments demonstrated the differences of the complexed and uncomplexed systems.