Degradable polymers of a cyclic silyl ether and uses thereof

1. A polymer prepared by a method comprising polymerizing:

one or more instances of a first monomer, or a salt thereof; and

a second monomer, wherein the second monomer is a compound of Formula (B):

 or a salt thereof, wherein any two instances of the first monomer are the same as or different from each other, and the second monomer is the same as or different from any instance of the first monomer;

in the presence of a metathesis catalyst;

wherein:

Y is O or C(R Q ) 2 ;

each instance of e is independently hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl;

each instance of R K is independently hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-10 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or —OR N ;

each instance of R N is independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-10 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or an oxygen protecting group;

j is 1, 2, or 3; and

k is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

2. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each instance of the first monomer is independently of Formula (A1) or (A2):

or a salt thereof;

wherein:

each instance of

 is Ring B, wherein each instance of Ring B is independently a substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic carbocyclic ring, substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic heterocyclic ring, substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic aryl ring, or substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic heteroaryl ring;

each instance of Z is independently C(R P ) 2 or O;

each instance of R P is independently hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl;

each instance of is independently a single bond or double bond;

each instance of L 1 , L 2 , L 3a , and L 3b is independently a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-200 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 alkynylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkenylene, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkynylene;

each instance of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is independently hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl, or two instances of R 1 attached to the same carbon atom are taken together to form oxo, or two instances of R 2 attached to the same carbon atom are taken together to form oxo, or two instances of R 3 attached to the same carbon atom are taken together to form oxo, or two instances of R 4 attached to the same carbon atom are taken together to form oxo;

each instance of W 1 and W 2 is independently a single bond,

each instance of R L is independently hydrogen, a nitrogen protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom, or -L(M) m ;

each instance of M is independently hydrogen or an agent;

each instance of m is independently an integer between 1 and 10, inclusive;

each instance of L is independently substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-200 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 alkynylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkenylene, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkynylene;

optionally one or more carbon atoms in each instance of the substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-200 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 alkynylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkenylene, and substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkynylene are independently replaced with substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclylene, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclylene, substituted or unsubstituted arylene, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylene;

optionally one or more heteroatoms in each instance of the substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkylene, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkenylene, and substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-200 heteroalkynylene are independently replaced with substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclylene, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclylene, substituted or unsubstituted arylene, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylene;

each instance of e and f is independently an integer between 0 and 10, inclusive;

each instance of X 1 and X 2 is independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-1000 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 alkynyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-1000 heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 heteroalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 heteroalkynyl, —OR C , —N(R C ) 2 , —C(═O)R C , —C(═O)OR C , —C(═O)N(R C ) 2 , —NR C C(═O)R C , —NR C C(═O)OR C , —NR C C(═O)N(R C ) 2 , —OC(═O)R C , —OC(═O)OR C , or —OC(═O)N(R C ) 2 ;

each instance of R C is independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-1000 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 alkynyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-1000 heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 heteroalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-1000 heteroalkynyl, a leaving group, an oxygen protecting group when attached to an oxygen atom, a nitrogen protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom,

each instance of n is independently an integer between 1 and 300, inclusive; and

each instance of R F is independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl, or an oxygen protecting group; or

is hydrogen or absent, as valency permits.

3. A method of preparing the polymer of claim 1 , the method comprises polymerizing one or more instances of the first monomer, and the second monomer in the presence of the metathesis catalyst.

4. A method of delivering an agent to a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof the polymer of claim 2 , wherein:

the polymer comprises at least one instance of an agent, wherein each instance of the agent is independently a therapeutic agent, prophylactic agent, or diagnostic agent.

5. A method of delivering an agent to a cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with the polymer of claim 2 , wherein:

the polymer comprises at least one instance of an agent, wherein each instance of the agent is independently a therapeutic agent, prophylactic agent, or diagnostic agent.

6. A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the polymer of claim 2 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one instance of a therapeutic agent, wherein:

at least one instance of the therapeutic agent is an anti-cancer agent.

7. A method of preventing cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a prophylactically effective amount of the polymer of claim 2 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one instance of a prophylactic agent, wherein:

at least one instance of the prophylactic agent is an anti-cancer agent.

8. A method of diagnosing cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a diagnostically effective amount of the polymer of claim 2 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one instance of a diagnostic agent, wherein:

at least one instance of the diagnostic agent is an imaging agent or contrast agent.

9. A composition comprising:

the polymer of claim 1 ; and

optionally an excipient.

10. A kit comprising:

the polymer of claim 1 ; and

instructions for using the polymer.

11. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein at least one instance of the first monomer is of Formula (A′) or (A″):

or salt thereof, wherein

each instance of

 is Ring B, wherein each instance of Ring B is independently a substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic carbocyclic ring, substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic heterocyclic ring, substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic aryl ring, or substituted or unsubstituted, monocyclic heteroaryl ring;

each instance of Z is independently C(R P ) 2 or O;

each instance of R P is independently hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl; and

each instance of is independently a single bond or double bond.

12. The polymer of claim 11 , wherein each instance of the first monomer is independently of Formula (D1) or (D2):

or a salt thereof, wherein:

each instance of x is independently 0, 1, or 2; and

each instance of y is independently 0, 1, or 2.

13. The polymer of claim 12 , wherein at least one instance of Z is CH 2 .

14. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein at least one instance of the first monomer is of the formula:

15. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each instance of the first monomer is of the formula:

16. The polymer of claim 2 , wherein at least one instance of the first monomer is of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein:

each instance of R A is independently hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl;

a is an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive;

each instance of R B is independently hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl;

each instance of b is independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive; and

e is an integer between 1 and 10, inclusive.

17. The polymer of claim 16 , wherein at least one instance of the first monomer is of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein:

e is an integer between 1 and 10, inclusive; and

at least one instance of -L(M) m comprises one or more instances of —C≡CH.

18. The polymer of claim 16 , wherein at least one instance of the first monomer is of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein:

e is an integer between 1 and 10, inclusive; and

at least one instance of M is a therapeutic agent, prophylactic agent, or diagnostic agent.

19. The polymer of claim 18 , wherein at least one instance of L is C 2-50 heteroalkylene, wherein:

the C 2-50 heteroalkylene is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, unsubstituted C 1-6 alkyl, and oxo;

one or more carbon atoms and/or one or more heteroatoms of the C 2-50 heteroalkylene are replaced with

 wherein the atom labeled with “*” is closer to the attachment point labeled with “**” than the attachment point labeled with “***”; and

optionally one or more carbon atoms and/or one or more heteroatoms of the C 2-50 heteroalkylene are independently replaced with substituted or unsubstituted phenylene.

20. The polymer of claim 18 , wherein at least one instance of L is of the formula:

wherein:

each instance of p is independently an integer from 1 to 10, inclusive;

each instance of L F is independently substituted or unsubstituted, C 2-180 heteroalkylene;

each instance of L C is independently substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-180 alkylene;

each instance of -L B -L A - is independently —C(═O)O— or —OC(═O)—; and

the nitrogen atom labeled with “*” is closer to the attachment point labeled with “**” than the attachment point labeled with “***”.

21. The polymer of claim 18 , wherein at least one instance of X 1 is —C(═O)N(R C ) 2 .

22. The polymer of claim 21 , wherein at least one instance of R C is

23. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein Y is O.

24. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein j is 1 and k is 1, j is 1 and k is 2, or j is 2 and k is 2.

25. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the second monomer is of the formula:

or a salt thereof.

26. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each instance of R K is independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, C 1-6 alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl.

27. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each instance of R K is unsubstituted C 1-3 alkyl.

28. The polymer of claim 15 , wherein each instance of R K is unsubstituted C 1-3 alkyl.

29. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the second monomer is of the formula:

30. The polymer of claim 15 , wherein the second monomer is of the formula:

31. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the second monomer is of the formula:

32. The polymer of claim 15 , wherein the second monomer is of the formula:

33. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one instance of the agent is an imaging agent or contrast agent.

34. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one instance of the agent is an anti-cancer agent.

35. The method of claim 4 , wherein the subject is a human.