Cross-linking polyethylene through carbenes

The development of universal methods for surface modification and crosslinking of polymeric materials is highly desirable. Mechanical properties of natural and synthetic materials rely on the ability of the polymeric chains to form a three-dimensional (3D) network, for example, through cross-linking. On page 875 of this issue, Lepage et al. show that a rationally designed bis-diazirine inspired by the wellknown 3-aryl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirine motif can be used for the cross-linking of nonfunctionalized saturated hydrocarbon polymers.