Radical cascade-enabled synthesis of precision polymers with complex main-chain structures

A method of preparing a polymer, the method comprising:

• providing a compound of Formula I
• Formula I
• wherein R1 is diyl group selected from —(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-O—(C═O)—R20—(C═O)—O—(C1-C6 alkanediyl), —O—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-O—, —O—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-(C3-C12 cyclic alkanediyl)-(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-O—, —O—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-(C3-C12 heterocyclic alkanediyl)-(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-O—, —O—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-(arylene)-(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-O—, —NH—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-NH—, —NH—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-(C3-C12 cyclic alkanediyl)-(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-NH—, —NH—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-(C3-C12 heterocyclic alkanediyl)-(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-NH—, and —NH—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-(arylene)-(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-NH—;
• wherein R2 is an aryl group substituted with 1, 2, or 3 electron-withdrawing groups;
• wherein R3 is selected from hydrogen, (C1-C16) alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl;
• wherein R20 is selected from arylene, a (C1-C12) alkanediyl, and —R21—(C1-C16 alkanediyl)-R22—;
• and
• wherein each of R21 and R22 are independently an arylene;
• and
• reacting the compound of Formula I in the presence of a photocatalyst and a chain transfer agent of Formula II or Formula III:
• wherein R10 is selected from a group having a structure represented by a formula:
• wherein n is integer having a value of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6;
• and,
• wherein R11 is a group selected from phenyl and a C2-C12 alkyl group.