Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PIPOx) and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) have been efficiently synthesized using bis(cyclopentadienyl)methylytterbium (Cp2YbMe) as catalyst. The polymerizations of 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline (IPOx) and 2-vinylpyridine (2VP) follow a living group-transfer polymerization (GTP) mechanism, allowing a precise molecular-weight control of both polymers with very narrow molecular-weight distribution. The GTP of IPOx and 2VP occurs via N coordination at the rare earth metal center, which has rarely been reported previously. The relative coordination strength of different monomers at the ytterbium center is determined by copolymerization investigations to be in the order of DEVP > MMA > IPOx > 2VP. In combination with living cationic ring-opening polymerization, PIPOx is converted to molecular brushes with defined backbone and poly(2-oxazoline) side chains using the grafting-from method.

A facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of β-hydroxy-γ-lactams from α,α-dialkyl β-oxo amides and trimethylsulfoxonium iodide in the presence of sodium hydride via a tandem Corey–Chaykovsky reaction and an intramolecular lactamization process is developed.

A facile and efficient synthesis of substituted dihydropyridin-2(3H)-ones is developed from penta-2,4-dienamides, in which an intramolecular C–N bond was formed through thermal 6π-azaelectrocyclization. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding-assisted cyclization reaction opens access to a variety of dihydropyridin-2(3H)-ones.

Novel statistic copolymers of dialkyl vinylphosphonates have been synthesized via rare earth metal-mediated group transfer polymerization using easily accessible tris(cyclopentadienyl)ytterbium. The copolymerization parameters have been determined by activity measurements showing the formation of almost perfectly random copolymers (r1, r2 ∼ 1). Thus, the polymerization rate of vinylphosphonate GTP is mainly limited by the steric demand of growing polymer chain end. The obtained copolymers of diethyl vinylphosphonate and dimethyl or di-n-propyl vinylphosphonate show thermoresponsive properties, i.e., exhibit a tunable lower critical solution temperature following a coil–globule transition mechanism, with cloud points between 5 and 92 °C. Hereby, the LCST can be precisely adjusted by varying the comonomer composition and correlates linearly with the content of hydrophilic/hydrophobic comonomer. These thermoresponsive poly(vinylphosphonate)s, exhibiting a sharp and reversible phase transition, and minor environmental effects such as concentration and additives on their cloud point, are promising candidates in biomedical applications.

A facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of β-hydroxy-γ-lactams from α,α-dialkyl β-oxo amides and trimethylsulfoxonium iodide in the presence of sodium hydride via a tandem Corey–Chaykovsky reaction and an intramolecular lactamization process is developed.