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We describe the photoinduced intrachain crosslinking of coumarin-containing copolymers in various organic solvents. Analysis of copolymer solvation and comparison to a molecular coumarin derivative revealed solvophobicity-driven crosslinking kinetics and chain compaction that facilitated the synthesis of single-chain nanoparticles. 

Abstract Access to block copolymers from monomers that do not polymerize via a common mechanism requires initiation from a multifunctional species that allows orthogonal polymerization chemistries. We disclose a strategy to provide well‐defined polyacrylamido‐b‐polyether block copolymers by a one‐pot combination of photoiniferter polymerization and organocatalytic ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) using a hydroxy‐functionalized trithiocarbonate photoiniferter as the dual initiator at ambient temperature. Our results reveal good compatibility between the two polymerization systems and highlight that they can be performed in arbitrary order or simultaneously with good retention of the thiocarbonylthio functionality. We also demonstrate selective temporal control over the photoiniferter polymerization during concurrent ROP. We harnessed the efficiency of combining these polymerization systems to provide tailor‐made block copolymers from chemically distinct monomers.