Simultaneous construction of polymer backbone and side chains by three‐component polycondensation. Synthesis of polyethers with keto side chains from dialdehydes, alkylene bis(trimethylsilyl) ethers, and silyl enol ethers

Abstract

Polyethers with the keto side chains were synthesized by the one-step reaction of dialdehydes (1), alkylene bis(trimethylsilyl) ethers (2), and silyl enol ethers (3) in the presence of 10 mol-% of triphenylmethyl perchlorate (trityl perchlorate). The model reactions using monofunctional analogs showed that silyl enol ether 3h of 4-nitroacetophenone is most effective for the depression of the aldol reaction of the aldehyde with 3. A variety of 1, 2, and 3h with the molar ratio 1:1:2 was polymerized at -50°C to yield polyethers with keto side chains. This polymer synthesis is unusual in that it concurrently constructs both polymer backbone and functional side chains from three starting compounds.