The translation of small molecule chemistries into efficient methodologies for polymer
functionalization spans several decades, enabling critical advances in soft matter materials
synthesis with tailored and adaptive property profiles. The present Perspective explores
based on selected examples 50 years of innovation in polymer functionalization
chemistries. These span a diverse set of chemistries based on activated esters, thiol–
ene/yne processes, nucleophilic systems based on isocyanates, reactions driven by the …