Activated polyoxazolines and conjugates and compositions comprising the same

A terminally activated polyoxazoline (POZ) compound of the general structure R1-POZ-Pp-Qq-Ww-Uu-X,

• wherein
• POZ is [N(COR7)CH2CH2]n
• X is an active functional group;
• P is —O—;
• q is 0;
• p, u and w are each 1;
• U is a linking group selected from the group consisting of:
• —(R16)o—, —(CR5R6)o—, —NH—R21—NHCO—R22—;
• W is —NH—CO;
• R7 is independently selected for each repeating unit of POZ from an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl group;
• R1, R5-R6 and R21-R22 are each independently selected from hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl group;
• R16 is an unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl group;
• n is an integer from 3 to 1000;
• and
• o is an integer from 1 to 10.