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Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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,...

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

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Two-dimensional metallo-supramolecular polymerization: toward size-controlled multi-strand polymers.

Jinne Adisoejoso¹, Yang Li, Jun Liu

¹Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|October 19, 2012

Summary

Researchers developed multi-strand metallo-supramolecular polymers using pyridyl-functionalized porphyrins on a gold surface. A novel chain-growth mechanism was discovered, allowing control over polymer length and width by adjusting temperature and adding modulators.

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Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

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Area of Science:

Supramolecular Chemistry
Materials Science
Surface Science

Background:

Metallo-supramolecular polymers offer tunable properties through coordination-driven self-assembly.
Understanding polymerization mechanisms at the single-molecule level is crucial for precise material design.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the self-assembly of multi-strand metallo-supramolecular polymers on a Au(111) surface.
To elucidate the polymerization mechanism and explore methods for controlling polymer dimensions.

Main Methods:

Self-assembly of pyridyl-functionalized porphyrin derivatives on a Au(111) surface.
Coordination using pyridyl-Cu-pyridyl linkages.
Single-molecule-resolved characterization using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).

Main Results:

Successful self-assembly of multi-strand metallo-supramolecular polymers.
Discovery of a novel chain-growth polymerization mechanism.
Demonstrated control over polymer length and width by manipulating growth temperature and molecular modulators.

Conclusions:

The study reveals a new chain-growth mechanism for metallo-supramolecular polymer formation on surfaces.
Precise control over polymer architecture is achievable through environmental and molecular tuning.