Star polymer synthesis via lambda-orthogonal photochemistry

We introduce a light induced sequence enabling lambda-orthogonal star polymer formation via an arms-first approach, based on an alpha,omega-functional polymer carrying tetrazole and o-methyl benzaldehyde moieties, which upon irradiation can readily undergo cycloaddition with a trifunctional maleimide core. Depending on the wavelength, the telechelic strand can be attached to the core at either photoreactive end.