A versatile protocol for the synthesis of a variety of multiresponsive diselenide-containing polymeric architectures was investigated. It consists of a one-pot, two-step process with the generation of a selenol by in situ nucleophilic ring opening of selenolactone with a broad range of amine-containing structures, followed by the transformation of the obtained compounds to the corresponding diselenide through a spontaneous oxidation coupling reaction. After elaboration of this one-pot reaction, a number of routes based on selenolactones have been developed for the successful synthesis of functional, linear, branched, cyclic, and cross-linked polymers via a mild, straightforward process. Moreover, the polymer end groups can be easily modified by changing the ratio of amine and selenolactone or sequential Michael addition of selenol to the methacrylic ester. At last, the self-healing properties of the diselenide-containing networks were determined by exposing a cut sample of the polymer to UV light.

A new method for preparing a degradable cross-linked polymer containing dynamic selenide was demonstrated. 1,2-Bis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-vinylphenyl)diselane (FVPDSe) was synthesized and used as a photoinitiator, mediator and dynamic covalent cross-linker to prepare cross-linked polymers via reversible-deactivation radical polymerization with vinyl monomers such as styrene, methyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate. After oxidation by hydrogen peroxide, the structure of the cross-linked polymer obtained from the copolymerization of FVPDSe with styrene was carefully analyzed using 1H, 13C, 19F, and 77Se NMR and SEC. In addition, the “livingness” of the obtained cross-linked polymers was also investigated.

Correction for ‘Selenium borohydride reaction as a versatile platform for the straightforward preparation of selenide-containing topological polymers’ by Chunlai Ding et al., Polym. Chem., 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7py00676d.

Diselenocarbonate-end capped hyperbranched copolymers and diselenide containing dynamic hydrogel were synthesized on the basis of a new RDRP methodology mediated by diselenocarbonates. Copolymerization of O-(4-methoxyphenyl)Se-(4-vinylbenzyl)carbonodiselenoate with vinyl monomers such as styrene, methyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and N-isopropylacrylamide afforded hyperbranched copolymers with variable branch length and degree of branching. A dynamic diselenide containing hydrogel was obtained from a hyperbranched PNIPAM via aminolysis and spontaneous oxidation reaction. This hydrogel showed redox and temperature responses.

A method for preparing selenide-containing polymers with desired topologies is established based on the reaction of a selenide-functionalized exchange resin with end-functionalized polymers that shows advantages such as wide structural feasibility, mild conditions, high efficiency and good recyclability. Polymers prepared through reversible-deactivation radical polymerization, e.g., atom-transfer radical polymerization and reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, could be used as precursors, enabling the production of polymers with diverse tailor-made architectures. Different types of polymer precursors, such as poly(styrene), poly(acrylate), poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) were successfully used to efficiently prepare well-defined selenide-containing polymers, which verified the versatility of the current method. Furthermore, selenide-containing polymers with complex topologies, such as cyclic and fused-cyclic, were also conveniently fabricated using polymer precursors with specific architectures, such as mono-, di- or tetratelechelic polymers.

Diselenide-containing polymer is an attractive polymer for their redox sensitivity, and has potential applications in bio-related areas. In this work, the synthesis of diselenide (Se–Se)-labeled polymers based on diselenocarbonate-mediated controlled radical polymerization (CRP) was investigated. Diselenocarbonate-end capped polymers from diselenocarbonate-mediated CRP were transformed to diselenide-centered polymers through high-efficiency aminolysis and a spontaneous oxidation coupling reaction in an open system. The process of aminolysis and spontaneous oxidation of the polymer chain ends was monitored by UV-Vis, GPC and NMR characterizations. The obtained diselenide-centered polymers showed reversible redox-responsive behavior. This work provides a protocol for introducing a redox responsive Se–Se bond into the polymer backbones. Importantly, the molecular weight and architectures of the diselenide-containing polymer can be well defined, which would be potentially useful for the fabrication of bio-related polymeric materials.

Mn(OAc)3-mediated tandem phosphonyl radical addition to β-nitrostyrenes followed by denitration to form (E)-2-alkenyl phosphonates in good yield is described.

Air oxidative radical oxysulfurization of alkynes initiated by 0.5 mol % tert-butyl hydroperoxide with arylthiols is described. The reaction proceeded at room temperature in the presence of 5% mol water to afford selective α-thioaldehydes.

Air oxidative radical hydroxysulfurization of styrenes initiated by 0.5 mol % of tert-butyl hydroperoxide with arylthiols is described, and a new type of difunctionalization of alkenes was achieved.

Mn(OAc)3-mediated tandem phosphonyl radical addition to β-nitrostyrenes followed by denitration to form (E)-2-alkenyl phosphonates in good yield is described.