One-pot sequential multicomponent reaction and a multicomponent polymerization method for the synthesis of topologically different polymers

Reactions combining two or more multicomponent reactions performed sequentially in a single pot have attracted great interest due to the fact that they enable more step- and time economic conversions of simple starting materials into complex targets. However, so far, no such reaction has been applied in the synthesis of topologically different polymers. Here, we first report a novel strategy combining the sequential multicomponent reaction (MCR) of a primary amine, a thiolactone and an alkene and the multicomponent polymerization (MCP) of an azide, an alkyne and a secondary amine in one-pot for the syntheses of topologically different polymers (linear, hyperbranched, core–shell polymers). This strategy provides an effective method that can control the sequence and topology of the obtained polymers simultaneously.