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Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

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Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...
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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

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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...
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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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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...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

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

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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...
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Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
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'Switch' catalysis: from monomer mixtures to sequence-controlled block copolymers.

T Stößer1, T T D Chen1, Y Zhu1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemical Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK.

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|November 28, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review details a versatile

Keywords:
block copolymersring-opening copolymerizationring-opening polymerization‘Switch’ catalysis

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

  • Efficient synthesis of block copolymers is crucial for advanced materials.
  • Current methods often require multiple catalysts or complex procedures.
  • Sustainable catalytic solutions are needed for a rapidly changing world.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a comprehensive guide on 'Switch' catalysis for block copolymer synthesis.
  • To detail methods for monitoring the catalysis and characterizing the resulting block copolymers.
  • To facilitate the development and application of this efficient catalytic method.

Main Methods:

  • Review of a 'Switch' catalysis method enabling sequential polymerization cycles.
  • Application of the method to synthesize block copolymers from various monomers (lactones, epoxides, anhydrides, CO2).
  • Step-by-step protocols for catalysis monitoring and product characterization.

Main Results:

  • Demonstration of efficient block copolymer synthesis using a single, switchable catalyst.
  • Successful polymerization and copolymerization of diverse monomers including CO2.
  • Establishment of reliable methods for tracking the catalytic process and identifying copolymer structures.

Conclusions:

  • The 'Switch' catalysis offers an efficient and versatile route to block copolymers.
  • Understanding catalysis monitoring and product characterization is key for its practical implementation.
  • This approach contributes to sustainable catalytic solutions in polymer synthesis.