Furan-Protected 4-Maleimidomethyl Styrene for Reversible Crosslinked Polymers

Due to the growing interest in reversibly cross-linkable polymers, the synthesis of maleimide-containing polymers for Diels-Alder crosslinking is very attractive. Here we present two new synthetic approaches to such polymers, starting from an N-alkylation of furane-protected maleimide, either at the polymeric level with poly(styrene-stat-4-chloromethylstyrene) or at the level of monomeric structures with 4-chloromethylstyrene. Both strategies allow freely adjustable maleimide contents and copolymerization with various comonomers. The monomer used for the second route has not yet been described in this form and is therefore examined in more detail, particularly with regard to its copolymerization behavior. We also present the reversibility of the cross-linking reaction and the possibility of integrating further functional groups into the polymer.