LAUSR

Despite many efforts, there is no versatile way to realize reversible cross-linking for most polymers. Inspired by the abstraction of hydrogen and the iniferter polymerization of benzophenone (BP), we report a versatile approach for building dynamic covalent networks for polymers containing C–H bonds. Under ultraviolet irradiation, BP can effectively abstract the hydrogen from polymers to form dormant diarylsemipinacol (DASP) groups on the polymer chains. Then, the dormant DASP-based linkages can be homolytically cleaved upon heating, after which they generate carbon-centered aliphatic radicals and DASP-based radicals. Therefore, the cross-linked polymer network can rearrange its topology through the dissociation and association of DASP-based linkages, which endow polymer networks with remodeling and self-healing abilities. Given that most commercially available polymers contain aliphatic C–H bonds, this provides a general method for forming thermal reversible cross-linked networks.