Regiospecific Radical Polymerization of a Tetrasubstituted Ethylene Monomer with Molecular Oxygen for the Synthesis of a New Degradable Polymer

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A new class of degradable polymers is obtained from a diene monomer and molecular oxygen as the starting materials via a highly controlled radical copolymerization process. We now report the regiospecific copolymerization of a tetrasubstituted ethylene monomer with oxygen. Theoretical calculations support the highly selective propagations observed during the polymerization. The key steps are the regiospecific reactions of a peroxy radical to diene monomers and an allyl radical to molecular oxygen. The well-controlled molecular structure of the resulting polymer leads to the aldehyde-free degradation products during degradation by various stimuli, such as heating.