Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.1K
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...
2.1K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.6K
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...
3.6K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

1.7K
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...
1.7K
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.3K
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...
2.3K
Polymers02:34

Polymers

32.8K
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...
32.8K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.9K
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...
2.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Discovery of urinary metabolite biomarkers of psychiatric disorders using two-sample Mendelian randomization.

BMC psychiatry·2026
Same author

Tough and Rapidly Relaxing Hydrogels Via Programmable Crosslink Kinetics.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

Oligomerisation and stereoselective polymerisation of alkenes and alkynes using pyridyl-based Al(iii) catalysts.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Translating Nature's Design Rules: How Catalysis and Life Science Guide Molecular Catassembly.

JACS Au·2026
Same author

Catassembly Triad: A Catalytic Framework for Enantioselective Chiral Molecular Assembly.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025
Same author

Macromolecule-Enriched Fluorescent Peptides Derived from Receptor Proteins for Sensitive Drug Identification via Differential Sensing.

Analytical chemistry·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
16:24

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

22.5K

Supramolecular polymerization promoted and controlled through self-sorting.

Zehuan Huang1, Liulin Yang, Yiliu Liu

  • 1Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China).

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|April 9, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a novel self-sorting method for supramolecular polymerization. This technique uses selective recognition between specific molecular groups and host molecules, enabling control over polymer formation.

Keywords:
controlled polymerizationcucurbiturilself-assemblyself-sortingsupramolecular chemistry

More Related Videos

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

7.2K
Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

9.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
16:24

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

22.5K
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

7.2K
Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

9.5K

Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Supramolecular polymerization offers a route to novel materials with tunable properties.
  • Controlling polymer architecture and molecular weight in supramolecular systems remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a new method for promoting and controlling supramolecular polymerization using self-sorting.
  • To demonstrate precise control over supramolecular polymer formation through selective molecular recognition.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of a bifunctional monomer incorporating p-phenylene and naphthalene moieties.
  • Utilizing selective host-guest complexation with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) to drive self-sorting and polymerization.
  • Controlling the polymerization process by adjusting the concentration of CB[7].

Main Results:

  • Successful promotion and control of supramolecular polymerization via a self-sorting mechanism.
  • Selective recognition between the p-phenylene group and CB[7], and 2:1 complexation of naphthalene groups with CB[8] were key.
  • Demonstrated tunability of the polymerization process by varying CB[7] content.

Conclusions:

  • The reported self-sorting method provides a powerful tool for controlling supramolecular polymerization.
  • This advance contributes to the precise molecular-weight and structural control of supramolecular polymers.
  • The findings enrich the field of supramolecular polymers with new possibilities for material design.