Synthesis and Degradation of Vinyl Polymers with Evenly Distributed Thioacetal Bonds in Main Chains: Cationic DT Copolymerization of Vinyl Ethers and Cyclic Thioacetals

Abstract We report a novel method to synthesize degradable poly(vinyl ether)s with cleavable thioacetal bonds periodically arranged in the main chains using controlled cationic copolymerization of vinyl ethers 7‐membered cyclic ( 7‐CTA ) via degenerative chain transfer (DT) internal bonds. The bonds, which are introduced into by ring‐opening ethers, serve as in‐chain dormant species allow homogeneous propagation for all segments afford copolymers overall and segmental molecular weights. obtained polymers can be degraded low‐ controlled‐molecular‐weight narrow weight distributions hydrolysis. Various hydrophobic, hydrophilic, functional pendants available. Finally, one‐pot synthesis multiblock their degradation diblock also achieved.