Combination of supramolecular cross-linking with covalent cross-linking through epoxide ring-opening including gel studies

Terpolymers based on poly(methyl methacrylate), containing terpyridine-moieties as well as epoxide groups, were synthesized via free-radical polymeri-zation. The products were cross-linked non-covalently with iron(II) ions and cova-lently by treatment with AlCl3. Both steps could be combined in different order. The non-covalent cross-linking could be reversed by applying a strong competing ligand. The swelling behaviour of the polymers was investigated.