Non‐activated Esters as Reactive Handles in Direct Post‐Polymerization Modification

Abstract

AbstractNon‐activated esters are prominently featured functional groups in polymer science, as ester functional monomers display great structural diversity and excellent compatibility with a wide range of polymerization mechanisms. Yet, their direct use as a reactive handle in post‐polymerization modification has been typically avoided due to their low reactivity, which impairs the quantitative conversion typically desired in post‐polymerization modification reactions. While activated ester approaches are a well‐established alternative, the modification of non‐activated esters remains a synthetic and economically valuable opportunity. In this review, we discuss past and recent efforts in the utilization of non‐activated ester groups as a reactive handle to facilitate transesterification and aminolysis/amidation reactions, and the potential of the developed methodologies in the context of macromolecular engineering.