How to modulate chemical structure of polyoxazolines by appropriate functionalization

Overview & Synopsis

Polyoxazolines (POx) are increasingly studied as polymeric building blocks due to the possibility of affording tunable properties. Additionally, as it was proved that biocompatibility and stealth behavior of POx are similar to that of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), it became challenging to develop polyoxazoline-based (co)polymers. Even if POx have a lot of advantages, they also show an important drawback as it is to date impossible to prepare high molecular weight polyoxazolines, with low polydispersity indexes. So, it appears important to judiciously functionalize them. This review covers the multiple ways of functionalization of polyoxazolines. The use of functional initiators, functional terminating agents, and 2-R-2-oxazolines with R functional side group is detailed. In conclusion, some perspectives on POx functionalizations are also reported, with functions permitting selective "click" reactions.