Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation
Published on: August 1, 2018
Hyperbranched polymers by thiol-yne chemistry: from small molecules to functional polymers
Dominik Konkolewicz1, Angus Gray-Weale, Sébastien Perrier
1Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, Building F11, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
A novel thiol-yne reaction enables rapid synthesis of hyperbranched polymers. This efficient UV-catalyzed method creates high-molecular-weight polymers for diverse applications, including drug delivery and catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Organic Synthesis
Background:
- Hyperbranched polymers offer unique properties due to their complex architectures.
- Traditional synthesis methods can be complex and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new, efficient method for synthesizing hyperbranched polymers.
- To explore the utility of the thiol-yne reaction in polymer synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the thiol-yne click chemistry reaction.
- Employed a photoinitiator and UV radiation at room temperature.
- Reacted small organic molecules and polymeric chains with thiol and alkyne functionalities.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized hyperbranched polymers using the thiol-yne reaction.
- Achieved rapid polymer formation, yielding high-molecular-weight polymers within 20 minutes of UV irradiation.
- Demonstrated the versatility of the method with both small molecules and polymer chains.
Conclusions:
- The thiol-yne reaction provides a fast and efficient route to hyperbranched polymers.
- These novel polymers hold significant potential for applications in catalysis, drug delivery, and viscosity modification.
Related Concept Videos
Polymer Classification: Architecture
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Polymers
Polymers

