Synthesis of nearly monodisperse polystyrene–polypeptide block copolymers via polymerisation of N-carboxyanhydrides

Primary amine hydrochlorides promote a well-controlled ring-opening polymerisation of Z-L-lysine-N-carboxyanhydride in DMF at 40-80 degrees C; the polystyrene-poly(Z-L-lysine) block copolymers synthesised exhibit a very narrow molecular weight distribution, close to a Poisson distribution.