Living anionic polymerization of functional aziridines

Summary 2-(Oct-7-en-1-yl)-N-mesylaziridine was used as a novel monomer for the anionic ring-opening polymerization. This is the first functional aziridine-derivative that can be polymerized via an anionic mechanism. Homo- and copolymers with (2-n-decyl-N-mesylaziridine) were synthesized and characterized via NMR spectroscopy and SEC. Molecular weight distributions were all monomodal and very narrow (M_w/M_n < 1.1). The pendant double bonds were functionalized with a protected cysteine derivative as a model for potential bioconjugation.