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(H) complexed poly(ethyloxazoline)s showed an unexpected absence of fragmentation. Viscosity experiments demonstrated the differences of the complexed and uncomplexed systems.