Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

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...

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,...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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...

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Late-Stage Carbonyl Removal via Sequential Double Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Transition Metal-Free Heteroarene Insertion Into C─C Bonds of Benzocyclobutenones.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Isolation of ROMP-Generated Macrocyclic Polyalkenamers via Polar Monomer Incorporation and Chain-End Modification.

Macromolecules·2026

Same author

Asymmetric Synthesis of Tertiary Alkyl Boronates via Ligand-Controlled Enantioconvergent Homologation.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Scanning nitrogen in sp<sup>3</sup>-rich scaffolds enabled by carbonyl-to-nitrogen atom swap.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same author

Catalytic C-Demethylation of Phenols and Anilines Enabled by a Removable Mono-Directing Group.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same journal

Reprocessable Disulfide-Based Vitrimers with Adhesive Properties.

Macromolecular rapid communications·2026

Same journal

Micro- and Nanopatterning of Highly Conductive PEDOT Thin Films.

Macromolecular rapid communications·2026

Same journal

From Molecular Structure to Macroscopic Performance: Insights into Polycarbosilane Curing.

Macromolecular rapid communications·2026

Same journal

High-Yield Synthesis of Molecular Bottlebrushes With Block Copolymer Side Chains by the Copper Superoxido Complex Enabled ATRP via a Grafting-From Approach.

Macromolecular rapid communications·2026

Same journal

Chemically and Mechanically Recyclable Polyolefins Incorporating Covalent Adaptable Networks.

Macromolecular rapid communications·2026

Same journal

Designing Thermally Stable DNA Hydrogels via Entropically-Driven Acridine Intercalation.

Macromolecular rapid communications·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

Multicomponent Polymerization for π-Conjugated Polymers.

Ki-Young Yoon¹, Guangbin Dong¹

¹Dr. K.-Y. Yoon, Prof. G. Dong, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

|December 16, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Multicomponent polymerization offers an efficient strategy for synthesizing complex π-conjugated polymers from simple building blocks. This approach enhances synthetic efficiency for materials used in electronic and sensor devices.

Keywords:

catalysis conjugated polymers multicomponent polymerization multicomponent reactions tandem polymerization

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Published on: June 20, 2019

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Published on: June 20, 2019

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Materials Science
Organic Electronics

Background:

π-conjugated polymers are crucial for advanced electronic and sensor applications.
Traditional synthesis of complex conjugated polymers is often challenging and inefficient.
Developing streamlined synthetic routes is essential for broader material accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

To review multicomponent polymerization strategies for π-conjugated polymer synthesis.
To classify these strategies based on monomer alignment during polymerization.
To discuss current challenges and future directions in the field.

Main Methods:

Focuses on multicomponent polymerization techniques.
Classifies polymerization strategies by monomer arrangement.
Reviews existing literature on the synthesis of π-conjugated polymers using these methods.

Main Results:

Highlights the efficiency and modularity of multicomponent polymerization.
Demonstrates the synthesis of diverse π-conjugated polymers via this approach.
Provides a classification framework for different polymerization strategies.

Conclusions:

Multicomponent polymerization is a powerful and efficient method for creating complex π-conjugated polymers.
This approach facilitates the use of simple monomers for advanced material synthesis.
Further research can overcome challenges and expand the scope of these polymers.