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Related Concept Videos

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this species into the...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael acceptor.
Lagging Strand Synthesis01:59

Lagging Strand Synthesis

During replication, the complementary strands in double-stranded DNA are synthesized at different rates. Replication first begins on the leading strand. Replication starts later, occurs more slowly, and proceeds discontinuously on the lagging strand.
There are several major differences between synthesis of the leading strand and synthesis of the lagging strand. 1) Leading strand synthesis happens in the direction of replication fork opening, whereas lagging strand synthesis happens in the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries
10:58

Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries

Published on: September 6, 2012

Sequence control in polymer synthesis.

Nezha Badi1, Jean-François Lutz

  • 1Research Group Nanotechnology for Life Science, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, Geiselbergstrasse 69, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.

Chemical Society Reviews
|May 8, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Controlling comonomer sequences in synthetic polymers is underdeveloped but crucial. Understanding biological sequence control can inspire new synthetic macromolecules for future materials science applications.

Area of Science:

  • Macromolecular Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Sequence control in synthetic polymers is an understudied area.
  • Sequence-defined biopolymers like proteins and nucleic acids are vital for life.
  • Biological systems utilize precise sequence control for complex functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current state of research in sequence control for polymerization.
  • To highlight the importance of sequence-defined synthetic polymers.
  • To inspire future developments in macromolecular materials.

Main Methods:

  • Critical discussion of biological mechanisms for sequence control.
  • Analysis of synthetic approaches to sequence control in polymerization.

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Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
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Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization

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Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
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Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries
10:58

Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries

Published on: September 6, 2012

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
07:28

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization

Published on: November 27, 2015

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
09:34

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

  • State-of-the-art overview of the field.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified a significant gap in the study of synthetic comonomer sequence control.
    • Demonstrated the parallels between biological sequence-defined polymers and potential synthetic materials.
    • Provided a comprehensive review of existing control mechanisms.

    Conclusions:

    • Sequence control in synthetic polymers is a critical emerging field.
    • Inspiration from biological systems can drive innovation in synthetic macromolecular design.
    • Further research is needed to unlock the potential of sequence-defined synthetic polymers.