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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

40.9K
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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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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23.3K
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

3.8K
Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
3.8K
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
4.0K
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

3.8K
Unlike small molecules with definite molecular weights, polymers are a mixture of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, each with a unique molecular weight.  So, the molecular weight of a polymer is expressed as an average value based on the average size of the polymer chains. The two most common forms of averages used for polymers are the number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight.
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
3.8K

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Vapor Phase Deposition of Electroactive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) onto Electrospun Commodity Polymer Nanofibers
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Vapor Phase Deposition of Electroactive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) onto Electrospun Commodity Polymer Nanofibers

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C-H Functionalization of Commodity Polymers.

Jill B Williamson1, Sally E Lewis1, Robert R Johnson1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|November 20, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chemoselective C-H functionalization modifies commodity polymers, enhancing material properties and enabling plastic waste upcycling. This approach increases the value of pervasive materials and discovers new material properties.

Keywords:
C−H functionalizationpolymerssustainable chemistrysynthetic methodsupcycling

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Organic Chemistry

Background:

  • Synthetic manipulation of polymers increases functional diversity in soft materials.
  • Commodity plastics are modified using established C-H functionalization methods for new material discovery.
  • Recent advances in C-H activation, photoredox catalysis, and radical chemistry enable precise polymer modification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review historical and contemporary advances in C-H functionalization of commodity polymers.
  • To present a conceptual approach for increasing the value of pervasive materials.
  • To explore new material properties and upcycling pathways for post-consumer plastic waste.

Main Methods:

  • Discussion of historical C-H functionalization techniques.
  • Analysis of recent chemoselective approaches driven by C-H activation, photoredox catalysis, and radical chemistry.
  • Conceptual outlining of future research directions.

Main Results:

  • Demonstration of C-H functionalization's historical significance in polymer modification.
  • Highlighting of chemoselective methods for precise polymer functionalization.
  • Identification of new avenues for material property enhancement and plastic waste upcycling.

Conclusions:

  • C-H functionalization offers a powerful strategy for upgrading commodity polymers.
  • This approach provides a viable path for upcycling post-consumer plastic waste.
  • Future research can unlock novel material properties and increase the value of existing plastics.