Click Chemistry for Well-Defined Graft Copolymers

Abstract

Graft copolymers have gained significant importance in various fields due to their tunable functionality and well-defined architecture. However, there are still limitations due to the compatibility of monomers and functional groups depending on the polymerization mode. Click chemistry has solved this problem through its ability to easily and quantitatively link a wide range of polymers and functional groups. The combination of click chemistry, including copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), thiol-ene, and thiol-yne reactions, with various polymerization techniques offers a promising solution for the robust and efficient preparation of graft copolymers with the desired architecture and functionality. In this review, we present successful applications of click chemistry in the production of well-defined graft copolymers with diverse functionalities such as for electronics, energy devices, biomedical applications, and nanotechnology.