ABSTRACT
We review the advantages and drawbacks of the various synthetic strategies for conjugating peptides to synthetic polymers obtained from reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (also known as living radical polymerization, controlled radical polymerization, or controlled/living radical polymerization). By using a selection of examples, we summarize the concept behind divergent and convergent syntheses, which lead to the production of linear and grafted peptide/polymer conjugates. In the second section of this entry, we present an overview of a near-universal convergent approach for the production of peptide/polymer conjugates, by combining reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and copper(I)– catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between an azide and an alkyne. This entry has been revised from “Synthetic Strategies for the Design of Peptide/Polymer Conjugates” Polymer Reviews, Vol. 51, Issue 2.
