1. Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Colloid Chemistry, Research Campus Golm, Potsdam, Germany;2. Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, Functional Polymer Systems, Potsdam, Germany;3. Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, Germany;4. Technical University of Berlin, Department of Chemistry, Berlin, Germany;5. University of Potsdam, Institute of Chemistry, Potsdam, Germany
Abstract:
As polypeptoids become increasingly popular, they present a more soluble and processable alternative to natural and synthetic polypeptides; the breadth of their potential functionality slowly comes into focus. This report analyzes the ability of an alkyne‐functionalized polypeptoid, poly(N‐propargyl glycine), to crosslink upon heating. The crosslinking process is analyzed by thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis), Fourier‐transform infrared, electron paramagnetic resonance, and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. While a precise mechanism cannot be confidently assigned, it is clear that the reaction proceeds by a radical mechanism that exclusively involves the alkyne functionality, which, upon crosslinking, yields alkene and aromatic products.
