CHAPTER 2: Thiol Chemistry for Precision Polymer Synthesis

The field of non-natural macromolecules with precisely defined structures has evolved quickly in the past few years. Absolute control over the synthesized polymer structure provides the opportunity to produce desired artificial polymers that are capable of exhibiting the same or even improved properties over those of biological macromolecules. Additionally, it will also provide theoretical guidance for the preparation of the next generation of functional polymer materials. Thiol is extremely reactive with a large number of substrates. Guided by the concept of green chemistry, thiol-X click chemistry has been employed and demonstrated to be an ideal tool for precision polymer synthesis. Herein, the general mechanisms of major reactions in thiol chemistry are introduced with a focus on their significance and potential applications. This chapter describes the releasing of thiol groups, the efficient reactions of thiol groups, and the application of thiol chemistry in precision polymer synthesis, emphasizing the contribution of thiol chemistry to precision polymer synthesis.