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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...
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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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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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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

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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.
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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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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.
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Optical Control of Living Cells Electrical Activity by Conjugated Polymers
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Photoinduced Controlled/Living Polymerizations.

Cansu Aydogan1,2, Gorkem Yilmaz1, Ataulla Shegiwal2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Letters, Istanbul Technical University, 34469, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|February 7, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Photochemistry enables precise control over polymer synthesis, offering sustainable, low-energy methods for creating advanced materials. This review highlights recent advances in photoinduced controlled polymerizations for diverse applications.

Keywords:
Cationic PolymerizationFree-Radical PolymerizationMechanistic TransformationsPhotoinduced Controlled Living Polymerization

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Photochemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Photochemistry offers unique advantages over traditional thermochemistry in polymer synthesis.
  • These advantages include enhanced control over polymer architecture, rapid reaction rates, and sustainable, low-energy processes.
  • Applications span adhesives, coatings, and adaptive manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the latest advancements in photocontrolled living radical and cationic polymerizations.
  • To discuss the combination of these methods for polymer synthesis.
  • To highlight recent studies in photoinduced controlled/living polymerizations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on photoinduced controlled/living polymerization techniques.
  • Analysis of mechanistic details across different polymerization methods.
  • Evaluation of monomer applicability in photocontrolled systems.

Main Results:

  • Photocontrolled living radical and cationic polymerizations offer precise control over macromolecular structure and chain length.
  • Emerging applications are driven by the unique capabilities of photochemistry in polymer synthesis.
  • Mechanistic insights reveal parallels and differences between various photocontrolled systems.

Conclusions:

  • Photoinduced controlled/living polymerizations represent a rapidly developing field with significant potential.
  • The precise control offered by photochemistry is crucial for advanced polymer applications.
  • Further research into mechanistic details and monomer scope will expand the utility of these methods.