Controlling carbodiimide-driven reaction networks through the reversible formation of pyridine adducts

Carbodiimides and pyridines form reversible adducts that slowly deliver carbodiimide "fuels" to out-of-equilibrium reaction networks, slowing activation kinetics and elongating transient state lifetimes. More-nucleophilic pyridines give more adduct under typical conditions. This approach can be used to extend the lifetimes of transient polymer hydrogels. The reversible formation of adducts between a carbodiimide and a pyridine allows the slow release of fuels for transient anhydride bond formation.