Self-Immolative Poly(4,5-dichlorophthalaldehyde) and its Applications in Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Macroscopic Plastics

End-capped poly(4,5-dichlorophthalaldehyde) (PCl₂PA), which is a new self-immolative CD_r polymer with the unique capability of depolymerizing continuously and completely in the solid state when an end cap is cleaved from the polymer by reaction with a specific molecular signal, is described. End-capped poly(4,5-dichlorophthalaldehyde) is sufficiently stable to enable patterning of three-dimensional macroscopic polymeric materials by selective laser sintering. These unique materials are capable of 1) autonomously amplifying macroscopic changes in the material in response to specific molecular inputs, and 2) altering their responses depending on the identity of the applied signal. Thus, not only does end-capped PCl₂PA provide new and unique capabilities compared to the small subset of existing CD_r polymers, but it also provides access to a new class of stimuli-responsive materials.