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Related Concept Videos

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.9K
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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Radical Reactivity: Overview01:11

Radical Reactivity: Overview

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Radicals, the highly reactive species, gain stability by undergoing three different reactions. The first reaction involves a radical-radical coupling, in which a radical combines with another radical, forming a spin‐paired molecule. The second reaction is between a radical and a spin‐paired molecule, generating a new radical and a new spin‐paired molecule. The third reaction is radical decomposition in a unimolecular reaction, forming a new radical and a spin‐paired...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

3.1K
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...
3.1K
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

8.9K
The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
8.9K
Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects01:10

Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects

2.2K
The presence of electron-donating, electron-withdrawing, or conjugating groups adjacent to a radical center, imparts electronic stabilization to the radicals. Examples of such electronically-stabilized radicals are triphenylmethyl, tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxide, and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl. These radicals are remarkably stable and are known as persistent radicals. Some of the persistent radicals can even be isolated and purified.
Along with electronic...
2.2K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

2.3K
The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 23, 2025

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
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Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

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Bacterial Redox Potential Powers Controlled Radical Polymerization.

Mitchell D Nothling1, Hanwei Cao2, Thomas G McKenzie1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria

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Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Synthetic Biology

Background:

  • Bacteria utilize intricate electron transport systems for energy, releasing electrons extracellularly.
  • Bacterial proliferation causes a drop in redox potential (Eh) influenced by microbial factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To harness bacterial reducing power for abiotic radical production.
  • To develop bioorthogonal molecular synthesis using bacterial electron efflux.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica as model organisms.
  • Intervened in bacterial terminal respiratory electron flow with an aryldiazonium salt.
  • Initiated bioorthogonal controlled radical polymerization via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (BacRAFT).

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated abiotic radical production mediated by bacterial metabolism and redox-active shuttles.
  • Achieved controlled radical polymerization, yielding synthetic extracellular matrices.
  • Synthesized vinyl polymers with defined molecular weights and low dispersity.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial reducing power can be subverted for targeted molecular synthesis.
  • This method enables the creation of engineered living materials.
  • Offers new possibilities for adaptive and self-regenerative material design.