Banner: Photo by Prateek Katyal

58. Regioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Chain-growth Allylic Amination Polymerization of Vinyl Aziridines

Jake Jagannathan, Yutian Ma, Brennan J. Curole, Scott M. Grayson, Owen S. Fenton & Frank Leibfarth. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, Accepted.

57. Stereoselective Polymerization of 3,6-Disubstituted N-Vinylcarbazoles

Cole C. Sorensen, Anthony Y. Bello & Frank A. Leibfarth. ACS Macro Lett. 2024, 13, 614-620.

56. Continuous Polymer Synthesis and Manufacturing of Polyurethane Elastomers enabled by Automation

Johann L. Rapp, Meredith A. Borden, Vittal Bhat, Alexis Sarabia, and Frank A. Leibfarth. ACS Polymers Au, 2024, ASAP Article. doi: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00033

55. C–H Functionalization of Polyolefins to Access Reprocessable Polyolefin Thermosets

Eliza K. Neidhart, Mutian Hua, Zhengxing Peng, Logan T. Kearney, Vittal Bhat, Foad Vashahi, Erik J. Alexanian, Sergei S. Sheiko, Cheng Wang, Brett A. Helms and Frank A. Leibfarth. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 27450-27458.

54. Polyolefin Ionomer Synthesis Enabled by C–H Thioheteroarylation

Quan H. Tran, Eliza K. Neidhart, Sergei S. Sheiko, Wim Bras, Frank A. Leibfarth. Macromolecules 2023, 56, 8920-8927.

53. Mechanistic Insight into the Stereoselective Cationic Polymerization of N-Vinylcarbazole

Cole C. Sorensen, Vittal Bhat, Anthony Y. Bello, and Frank A. Leibfarth. ACS Catalysis 2023, 13, 12163-12172.

52. Ultrasound Assisted RAFT Polymerization in a Continuous Flow Method

Amrish K. Padmakumar, Nikhil Singha, Mthupandian Ashokkumar, Frank A. Leibfarth & Greg Qiao. Macromolecules 2023, 56, 6920-6927.

51. Modifying Poly(caprolactone) Degradation through C–H Functionalization

Victoria J. Barber, Meredith A. Borden, Jill W. Alty, Ly D. Tran, Hilmar Koerner, Luke A. Baldwin, Erik J. Alexanian, and Frank A. Leibfarth. Macromolecules 2023, 56, 3679-3686.

A version of this manuscript was originally posted on ChemRxiv 2022, doi: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-z7qlt

50. Asymmetric Ion-Pairing in Stereoselective Vinyl Polymerization

Cole C. Sorensen, Caleb T. Kozuszek, Meredith A. Borden & Frank A. Leibfarth. ACS Catalysis 2023, 13, 3272-3284.

49. Circular Upcycling of Bottlebrush Thermosets

Daixuan Zhang, Foad Vashahi, Erfan Dashtimoghadam, Xiaobo Hu, Claire Wang, Jessica Garcia, Aleksandra V. Bystrova, Mohammad Vatankhah-varnoosfaderani, Frank A. Leibfarth and Sergei S. Sheiko. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202217941.

48. Hydrolytically Stable Ionic Fluorogels for High-Performance Remediation of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from Natural Water

Irene M. Manning, Nick Guan Pin Chew, Haley P. Macdonald, Kelsey E. Miller, Mark J. Strynar, Orlando Coronell, and Frank A. Leibfarth, Angew. Chem. Int Ed. 2022, 61 e202208150.

47. A Dual Initiator Approach for Oxygen Tolerant RAFT Polymerization

Nicholas G. Taylor, Marcus H. Reis, Travis P. Varner, Johann L. Rapp, Alexis Sarabia, & Frank A. Leibfarth, Polym. Chem. 2022, 13, 4798-4808.

46. Stereoselective Helix-Sense -Selective Cationic Polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole using Chiral Lewis Acid Catalysis

Cole C. Sorensen and Frank A. Leibfarth. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 8487-8492.

Highlighted in Synfacts by Timothy M. Swager and Tiffany Q. Chen: “Thinking Inside the BOX for Helical, Isotactic Poly(NVC)s” Synfacts 2022, 18, 0737.

45. Critical advances and future opportunities in upcycling commodity polymers

Carolie Jehanno, Jill W. Alty, Martijn Roosen, Steven De Meester, Andrew P. Dove, Eugene Y.-X. Chen, Frank A. Leibfarth & Haritz Sardon. Nature 2022, 603, 803-814.

44. Diversification of aliphatic C–H bonds in small molecules and polyolefins through radical chain transfer

Timothy J. Fazekas, Jill W. Alty, Eliza K. Neidhart, Austin S. Miller, Frank A. Leibfarth, Erik J. Alexanian. Science 2022, 375, 545-550.

Highlighted in Chemical & Engineering News: “A radical way to upcycle polymers”
Highlighted by EcoWatch: “https://www.ecowatch.com/mistry.html”

43. Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Stereoselective Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers

Phil C. Knutson, Aaron J. Teator, Travis P. Varner, Caleb T. Kozuszek, Paige E. Jacky & Frank A. Leibfarth. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 16388-16393.

Highlighted as the Nature Synthesis pick of the week.
Highlighted in Synfacts by Benjamin List and Sebastian Brunen: “Strong and Confined Brønsted Acid Catalyst Enables Isotactic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers” Synfacts 2021, 17, 1381.

42. Machine Learning-Guided Discovery of 19F MRI Agents Enabled by Automated Copolymer Synthesis

Marcus Reis, Filipp Gusev, Nicholas G. Taylor, Sang Hun Chung, Yueh Z. Lee, Olexandr Isayev, Frank A. Leibfarth. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143. 17677-17689.

Preprint previously posted on ChemRxiv: d10.33774/chemrxiv-2021-rwr0w

41. From Disposable Diapers to Adhesives

M. A. Borden & F. A. Leibfarth. Nature Chem. 2021, 13, 925-932.

News & Views highlight of the McNeil group’s manuscript

40. 100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint:The Past, Present, and Future of Stereocontrolled Vinyl Polymerization

A. J. Teator, T. P. Varner, P. C. Knutson, C. C. Sorensen & F. A. Leibfarth. ACS Macro Letters, 2020, 9, 1638-1654.

Perspective as part of the 100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science

39. Mechanistic Insight into the Stereoselective Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers

T. P. Varner, A. J. Teator, Y. Reddi, P. E. Jacky, C. J. Cramer & F. A. Leibfarth, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 17175-17186.

38. Understanding the synthesis of linear-bottlebrush-linear block copolymers: towards plastomers with well-defined mechanical properties

Y. Cong, M. Vatankhah-Varnosfaderani, V. Karimkhani, A. N. Keith, F. A. Leibfarth, M. M. Martinez, K. Matyjaszewski & S. S. Sheiko. Macromolecules 2020, 53, 8324-8332.

37. Partially Fluorinated Copolymers as Oxygen Sensitive 19F MRI agents

N. G. Taylor, S. H. Chung, A. L. Kwansa, R. R. Johnson III, A. J. Teator, N. J. B. Milliken, K. M. Koshlap, Y. G. Yingling, Y. Z. Lee & F. A. Leibfarth 2020, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 9982-9990.

Invited submission as part of the “Young Chemists Special Issue”

36. Ionic Fluorogels for Remediation of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances from Water

E. Kumarasamy, I. M. Manning, L. B. Collins, O. Coronell & F. A. Leibfarth. ACS Central Science 2020, 6, 487-492.

Our work was highlighted in Chemical & Engineering News: “Fluorinated Gel Grabs PFAS.” by Benjamin Plackett (March 23rd 2020).
Our work was highlighted in a “First Reactions” article in ACS Central Science by Rafael Verduzco & Michael Wong.
A version of this manuscript was originally posted on ChemRxiv, 2019, doi: 10.26434/chemrxiv.10046576.v1

35. Organocatalytic C–H Fluoroalkylation of Commodity Polymers

S. E. Lewis, B. E. Wilhelmy Jr. & F. A. Leibfarth. Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 4914-4919.

34. Polymerizations in Flow: Opportunities for Well-Defined Architecturally and Compositionally Complex Polymeric Materials

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M. Reis, F. A. Leibfarth & L. Pitet. ACS Macro Letters, 2020, 9, 123-133.

#1 most read article in ACS Macro Letters: January 2020

33. Polar Thermoplastics with Tunable Physical Properties Enabled by the Stereoselective Copolymerization of Vinyl Ethers

A. J. Teator, T. P. Varner, P. E. Jacky, K. A. Sheyko, & F. A. Leibfarth. ACS Macro Letters, 2019 8, 1559-1563.

Highlighted on the Front Cover of volume 8, issue 12 of ACS Macro Letters
A version of this manuscript was originally posted on ChemRxiv: 10.26434/chemrxiv.9904985.v1

32. Chemo- and Regioselective Functionalization of Isotactic Polypropylene: A Mechanistic and Structure–Property Study

J. B. Williamson, C. G. Na, R. R. Johnson III, W. F. M. Daniel, E. J. Alexanian, & F. A. Leibfarth. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 12815-12823.

31. Upcycling Aromatic Polymers through C–H Functionalization

S. E. Lewis, B. E. Wilhelmy Jr. & F. A. Leibfarth. Chemical Science, 2019, 10, 6270-6277.

Highlighted by Chemistry World: C–H Fluoroalkylation Tackles Plastic Waste
Highlighted as the Chemical Science Pick of the Week
Chosen as a Chemical Science Hot Article

30. Catalyst-controlled stereoselective cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers

A. J. Teator & F. A. Leibfarth. Science, 2019, 363, 1439-1443.

Highlighted by a Perspective in Science: J. C. Foster & R. K. O’Reilly. How to Better Control Polymer Chemistry, Science, 2019, 363, 6434.
Highlighted by Nature: Pointing Molecules in the Right Direction Yields a Better Plastic (March 29th, 2019).
Highlighted by Chemical & Engineering News: B. Halford. Strong, Adhesive Polymers made via Sterechemical Control (April 2nd, 2019)
Highlighted as the “Polymer of the Month” on the Polymer Science Learning Center: Isotactic Poly(vinyl ether)s: Something we should have made long ago but didn’t know how…
Highlighted on Phys.org: Using an organocatalyst to stereocontrol polymerization.

29. The influence of residence time distribution on continuous-flow polymerization

M. H. Reis, T. P. Varner, & F. A. Leibfarth. Macromolecules 2019, 52, 3551-3557.

A version of this manuscript was originally posted on ChemRxiv: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.7726166.v1

28. C–H functionalization of commodity polymers

J. B. Williamson, S. E. Lewis, R. R. Johnson III, I. M. Manning, & F. A. Leibfarth. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 8654-8668.

27. Regioselective C–H xanthylation as a platform for polyolefin functionalization

J. B. Williamson, W. L. Czaplyski, E. J. Alexanian & F. A. Leibfarth. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 6261-6265.

26. Continuous-flow chemistry for the determination of comonomer reactivity ratios

M. H. Reis, C. L. G. Davidson IV & F. A. Leibfarth. Polym. Chem. 2018, 9, 1728-1734.

Prior to UNC

25. Continuous-flow chemistry in undergraduate education: Sustainable conversion of reclaimed vegetable oil into biodiesel

F. A. Leibfarth, M. G. Russell, D. M. Langley, H. Seo, L. P. Kelly, D. W. Carney, J. K. Sello & T. F. Jamison. J. Chem. Ed. 2018, 95, 1371-1375.

24. Flow-IEG enables programmable thermodynamic properties in sequence-defined unimolecular macromolecules

A. C. Wicker, F. A. Leibfarth, & T. F. Jamison. Polym. Chem. 2017, 8, 5786-5794. [doi]

23. Scalable synthesis of sequence-defined, unimolecular polymers by Flow-IEG

F. A. Leibfarth, J. A. Johnson & T. F. Jamison. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2015, 112, 10617-10622. [doi]

Highlighted in C&E News (vol. 93 (33): August 2015 p. 5) (link)
Highlighted in MIT Chemformation newsletter (link)

22. Iterative exponential growth of stereo- and sequence-controlled polymers

J. C. Barnes, D. J. C. Ehrlich, A. X. Gao, F. A. Leibfarth, Y. Jiang, E. Zhou, T. F. Jamsion & J. A. Johnson. Nature Chem. 2015, 7, 810-815. [doi]

Highlighted in Chemistry World Magazine (link)

21. Design and synthesis of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts: A visible light photoswitch derived from furfural

S. Helmy, S. Oh, F. A. Leibfarth, C. J. Hawker & J. Read de Alaniz. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 11316-11329. [doi]

20. Synthetic aptamer-polymer hybrid constructs for programmed drug delivery into specific target cells

S. S. Soh, B. F. Lee, F. A. Leibfarth, M. R. Robb, N. A. Lynd, M. E. Eisenstein, C. J. Hawker & H. T. Soh. J. Am. Chem Soc.. 2014, 136, 15010-15015. [doi]

19. Photoswitching using visible light: A new class of organic photochromic molecules

S. Helmy, F. A. Leibfarth, S. Oh, J. E. Poelma, C. J. Hawker & J. Read de Alaniz. J. Am. Chem Soc.. 2014, 136, 8169-8172. [doi]

18. Strain induced strengthening of the weakest link: The importance of intermediate geometry for the outcome of mechanochemical reactions

R. Groote, B. M. Szyja, F. A. Leibfarth, C. J. Hawker, N. L. Doltsinis & R. P. Sijbesma. Macromolecules 2014, 47, 1187-1192. [doi]

17. The emerging utility of ketenes in polymer chemistry

F. A. Leibfarth & C. J. Hawker. J. Polym. Sci. A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3769-3782. [doi] (Highlight article)

Highlighted by Materials Views website (link)

16. External regulation of controlled polymerizations

F. A. Leibfarth, K. M. Mattson, B. P. Fors, H. A. Collins & C. J. Hawker. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 199-210. [doi] (Minireview)

15. Efficient surface neutralization & enhanced surface adhesion through ketene-mediated crosslinking and functionalization

H. Jung, F. A. Leibfarth, S. Woo, S. Lee, M. Kang, B. Moon, C. J. Hawker & J. Bang. Adv. Funct. Mat. 2012, 23, 1597-1602. [doi]

14. Ketene-based route to rigid cyclobutanediol monomers for the replacement of BPA in high performance polyesters

D. J. Burke, T. Kawauchi, M. J. Kade, F. A. Leibfarth, B. McDearmon, M. Wolffs, P. H. Kierstead, B. Moon & C. J. Hawker. ACS Macro Lett. 2012, 1, 1228-1232. [doi]

13. Transforming polylactide into value-added materials

F. A. Leibfarth, N. Moreno A. Hawker & J. D. Shand. J. Polym. Sci. A: Polym. Chem. 2012, 50, 4814-4822. [doi]

Highlighted in UCSB Convergence Magazine (link)
Highlighted as journal cover image (link)

12. Reactivity ratios & mechanistic insight for the anionic ring-opening polymerization of epoxides

B. Lee, M. Wolffs, K. Delaney, J. Sprafke, F. A. Leibfarth, C. J. Hawker & N. A. Lynd. Macromolecules. 2012, 45, 3722-3731. [doi]

11. Low temperature ketene formation in materials chemistry through molecular engineering

F. A. Leibfarth, M. Wolffs, L. M. Campos, K. Delaney, N. Treat, M. J. Kade, B. Moon & C. J. Hawker. Chem. Sci. 2012, 3, 766-771. [doi]

10. Reactive, multifunctional polymer films through thermal cross-linking of orthogonal click groups

J. M. Spruell, M. Wolffs, F. A. Leibfarth, B. C. Stahl, J. Heo, L. A. Connal, J. Hu & C. J. Hawker. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 16698-16706. [doi]

9. Mechanically Throwing a Reaction into Reverse

F. A. Leibfarth & C. J. Hawker. Science. 2011, 333, 1582-1583. [doi] (Perspective article)

8. Hope for graduate student childbirth policies

F. A. Leibfarth & N. Vermaak. Science. 2011, 333, 1380. [doi]

7. Controlling volume shrinkage in soft lithography through heat-induced crosslinking of patterned nanofibers

Y. Miyamura, C. Park, K. Kinbara, F. A. Leibfarth, C. J. Hawker & T. Aida. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 2840-2843. [doi]

6. Ketene functionalized polyethylene: Control of cross-link density & material properties

F. A. Leibfarth, Y. Schneider, N. A. Lynd, A. Schultz, B. Moon, E. J. Kramer, G. C. Bazan & C. J. Hawker. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 14706-14709. [doi]

5. A facile route to ketene functionalized polymers for broad materials applications

F. A. Leibfarth, M. Kang, M. Ham, J. Kim, L. M. Campos, N. Gupta, B. Moon & C. J. Hawker. Nature Chem. 2010, 2, 207-212. [doi]

Highlighted in "News and Views" section of Nature Chemistry. (link)
Highlighted in Chemistry World Magazine (link)
Highlighted in C&E News; "Versatile Ketene Polymers" (link)

4. Organocatalytic ring opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

F. Nederberg, B. G. G. Lohmeijer, F. A. Leibfarth, R. C. Pratt, J. Choi, R. M. Waymouth & J. L. Hedrick. Biomacromolecules.. 2007, 8, 153-160. [doi]

3. Guanidine & amidine organocatalysts for ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

B. G. G. Lohmeijer, R. C. Pratt, F. A. Leibfarth, J. W. Logan, D. A. Long, A. P. Dove, F. Nederberg, J. Choi, R. M. Waymouth & J. L. Hedrick. Macromolecules.. 2006, 39, 8574-8583. [doi]

2. Organocatalytic living ring opening polymerization of cyclic carbosiloxanes

B. G. G. Lohmeijer, G. Dubois, F. A. Leibfarth, R. C. Pratt, F. Nederberg, A. Nelson, R. M. Waymouth, C. Wade & J. L. Hedrick. Org. Lett.. 2006, 8, 4683-4686. [doi]

1. Chemeoresponsive monolayer transistors

X. Guo, M. Myers, S. Xiao, M. Lefenfeld, R. Steiner, G. S. Tulevski, J. Tang, J. Baumert, F. Leibfarth, J. T. Yardly, M. L. Steigerwald, P. Kim & C. Nuckolls. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2006, 103, 11452-11456. [doi]

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