Lepage, Mathieu L.Simhadri, ChakravarthiLiu, ChangTakaffoli, MahdiBi, LitingCrawford, BrynMilani, Abbas S.Wulff, Jeremy E.2020-07-062020-07-0620192019Lepage, M. L., Simhadri, C., Liu, C., Takaffoli, M., Bi, L., Crawford, B., Milani, A. S., & Wulff, J. E. (2019). A broadly applicable cross-linker for aliphatic polymers containing C–H bonds. Science, 366(6467), 875-878. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay6230https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay6230http://hdl.handle.net/1828/11911Addition of molecular cross-links to polymers increases mechanical strength and improves corrosion resistance. However, it remains challenging to install cross-links in low-functionality macromolecules in a well-controlled manner. Typically, high-energy processes are required to generate highly reactive radicals in situ, allowing only limited control over the degree and type of cross-link. We rationally designed a bis-diazirine molecule whose decomposition into carbenes under mild and controllable conditions enables the cross-linking of essentially any organic polymer through double C–H activation. The utility of this molecule as a cross-linker was demonstrated for several diverse polymer substrates (including polypropylene, a low-functionality polymer of long-standing challenge to the field) and in applications including adhesion of low–surface-energy materials and the strengthening of polyethylene fabric.enPostprintDepartment of Chemistry