One-pot multi-step reactions based on thiolactone chemistry: A powerful synthetic tool in polymer science

One-pot multi-step reactions based on thiolactone chemistry emerged as a powerful tool to prepare tailor-made, multi-functionalized polymer architectures in a one-pot and elegant manner. This feature article highlights the most important features of this approach, demonstrated in various reactive systems including (bio-based) linear polymers, heterotelechelic polymers, polymeric networks and heterogeneous supports. This overview clearly reveals its remarkable versatility involving modular synthesis and double modification of polymers: thiolactones can be opened by a wide variety of functional amines and the released thiol can react with thiol ‘scavengers’ of choice.