High-fidelity propionaldehyde functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol): Synthesis and applications

An economical and efficient approach for synthesizing high-fidelity PEGn-Alds through a substitution and oxidation process has been developed, particularly avoiding peroxidation and breakage of PEG main chains in the oxidation step, laying a foundation for synthesizing high-quality drugs and developing novel therapeutics. [Display omitted] •Economical and efficient approach for synthesizing high-fidelity propionaldehyde functionalized poly(ethylene glycol).•Avoiding the problem of oxidation chain breakage in traditional oxidation methods.•Realize multifunctional and large-scale preparation of propionaldehyde functionalized poly(ethylene glycol). An economical and efficient approach for synthesizing high-fidelity PEGn-Alds through a substitution and oxidation process has been developed, providing a new pathway for obtaining high-purity PEGn-Alds, particularly addressing the issue of peroxidation and breakage of PEG main chains in the oxidation step. The synthesis of a series of high-fidelity PEGn-Alds with different functional groups or topological structures further proves the versatility of this new method. Additionally, PEGn-Alds also exhibit good biocompatibility, and potential ability to modify peptides and self-assembly to micelles, this lays a foundation for synthesizing high-quality drugs and developing novel therapeutics.