Work

Monodisperse Oligoamides as Precise Precursors for Nylon via Solid-State Polycondensation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study presents a scalable, solution-phase protocol for the synthesis of monodisperse oligoamides with nylon-4, nylon-6 and hybrid nylon-4/6 backbones, enabled by a group assisted purification strategy. For this, unnatural amino acid monomers are iteratively coupled onto a phosphonate-functional soluble support, yielding uniform oligomers bearing orthogonal functional end groups that allow their solid-state polycondensation (SSP). Pure monodisperse oligomer precursors of nylon-4 exhibits thermal limitations due to their low ceiling temperature, resulting in low molecular weight products after SSP. In contrast, incorporation of strategically positioned nylon-6 units effectively suppress backbiting and facilitates efficient SSP, producing well-defined nylon-4/6 copolymers. This unique design approach offers unprecedented control over the polyamide microstructure and establishes a versatile route toward polyamide synthesis with potential for customizing material properties.

Source: ACS Macro Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5c00620

Authors: Adithya Tharayil, Joshua J. J. Verstappen, Irene De Franceschi, Katrien V. Bernaerts, Nezha Badi, Filip E. Du Prez

Institutions: Ghent University, Maastricht University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent, H2020 European Research Council

Awards: Magnetic resonance equipment for advanced material research: molecular characterisation of solid, soft, homogeneous and heterogeneous matter for the development of advanced functional materials and chemical catalysis, Circular Thermoset Materials: How to exploit Precision Engineered Macromolecules in their Bottom-up Design?, G449221245