Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Modulating Polymerization Thermodynamics of Thiolactones Through Substituent and Heteroatom Incorporation
Kellie A Stellmach1, McKinley K Paul1, Mizhi Xu1
1School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Abstract:
A central challenge in the development of next-generation sustainable materials is to design polymers that can easily revert back to their monomeric starting material through chemical recycling to monomer (CRM). An emerging monomer class that displays efficient CRM are thiolactones, which exhibit rapid rates of polymerization and depolymerization. This report details the polymerization thermodynamics for a series of thiolactone monomers through systematic changes to substitution patterns and sulfur heteroatom incorporation. Additionally, computational studies highlight the importance of conformation in modulating the enthalpy of polymerization, leading to monomers that display high conversions to polymer at near-ambient temperatures, while maintaining low ceiling temperatures (Tc). Specifically, the combination of a highly negative enthalpy (-19.3 kJ/mol) and entropy (-58.4 J/(mol·K)) of polymerization allows for a monomer whose equilibrium polymerization conversion is very sensitive to temperature.
More Related Videos
06:56Characterization of Synthetic Polymers via Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 10, 2018
06:55Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Polymers