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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
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...
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...
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...

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Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
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Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Published on: November 21, 2017

External regulation of controlled polymerizations.

Frank A Leibfarth1, Kaila M Mattson, Brett P Fors

  • 1Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, 93106, USA.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|November 21, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists can now control polymer synthesis using external triggers like light or force. This review explores methods for on-demand material properties, inspired by nature's own controlled polymerizations.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry and Materials Science

Background:

  • Advances in controlled polymerization and post-functionalization enable creation of diverse polymer architectures.
  • Materials science challenges increasingly demand polymers with on-demand properties and performance.
  • Nature utilizes temporal and spatial control of biopolymer production (proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides) for regulation and homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing strategies for achieving temporal control over polymerizations using external stimuli.
  • To highlight recent advancements and future directions in the field of stimulus-responsive polymer synthesis.
  • To provide a framework for developing new methods to regulate controlled polymerizations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on external stimuli-responsive polymerization techniques.
  • Analysis of methods employing chemical reagents, applied voltage, light, and mechanical force.
  • Examination of natural systems for insights into controlled biopolymer synthesis.

Main Results:

  • Demonstration of various external stimuli (chemical, electrical, light, mechanical) for temporal control of polymerization.
  • Illustration of the significant potential of stimulus-responsive polymers in materials science.
  • Identification of key criteria for the development of future polymerization control strategies.

Conclusions:

  • External stimuli offer powerful tools for on-demand control over polymer properties and performance.
  • The field of stimulus-responsive polymerization is rapidly advancing with considerable potential.
  • A clear vision and set of criteria are emerging for the rational design of future controlled polymerization strategies.