Poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone)(pVDMA)can be readily(co)polymerized by RAFT radical polymerization to give reactive scaffolds that may be utilized for the generation of libraries of functional materials with interesting properties.Here we will highlight how such reactive precursors can be utilized to prepare novel thermoresponsive materials including homopolymers,statistical copolymers and gels.This approach takes advantage of the facile reaction of pVDMA,and its copolymers,with 1° and 2° amines to give novel bisamides,Scheme 1.