An Automated Flow Platform for the Rapid Synthesis of Degradable Copolymers

Conventional batch photopolymerization often faces limitations in scalability and structural control due to light penetration and heat transfer issues. In this study, we present a continuous-flow platform that integrates photoinduced polymerization and thermal degradation. Using n-butyl acrylate and bio-based α-lipoic acid, we achieved rapid synthesis of statistical copolymers under low-intensity UV light (365 nm), maintaining steady-state conversion even with 100-fold scale-up. In-line UV–vis monitoring confirmed constant and predictable conversion from a stable radical flux across the residence-time distribution, evidencing homogeneous photon and mass transport even under weak irradiation. Furthermore, the resulting copolymers exhibited complete, catalyst-free thermal depolymerization within  4 hours under continuous-flow conditions. This reversible process demonstrates a sustainable approach for the production and circularity of dynamic, degradable polymer materials.