Syntheses of diselenide-containing dynamic polymers and their application in polymer alloys

The diselenide-containing polycarbonate ((PTMCSe) 2 ) and diselenide-containing poly( ε -caprolactone) ((PCLSe) 2 ) were synthesized by the ring opening polymerization using a new compound of di-(1-hydroxypropyl) diselenide ((HOC 3 H 6 Se) 2 ) as initiator. The dynamic properties of these diselenide-containing polymers were revealed by a series of diselenide exchange reactions, which could be realized under visible irradiation at room temperature. As the result of the diselenide exchange between (PTMCSe) 2 and (PCLSe) 2 , a di-block polymer (PCLSeSePTMC) was formed in (PTMCSe) 2 /(PCLSe) 2 alloy. Taking advantage of the diselenide exchange, the compatibility and miscibility of (PTMCSe) 2 /(PCLSe) 2 alloy was significantly improved by the exchange product (PCLSeSePTMC) which acted as polymeric compatilizer. This novel concept may be applied in other polymer alloys containing dynamic covalent polymers.