Photo- and Metallo-responsive N-Alkyl α-Bisimines as Orthogonally Addressable Main-Chain Functional Groups in Metathesis Polymers

N-alkyl α-bisimines were employed as main-chain functional groups in acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET)-polymers, conferring dual responsiveness for the controlled switching of the polymeric particle shape with light and metal ions. Photochemical Z/E-isomerization leads to a significant and reversible change in hydrodynamic volume, thus introducing simple imines as novel photoswitches for light-responsive materials. Mild imine-directed CH activation by Pd(OAc)₂ is demonstrated as a new single-chain nanoparticle (SCNP) folding process, enabling a controlled atom- and step-economic SCNP synthesis. The combination of light- and metallo-responsiveness in the same polymer provides the ability for orthogonal switching, a valuable tool for advanced functional material design.