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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Homogeneous Synthesis of Monodisperse Sequence-Defined Conjugated Oligomers by Temperature Cycling
Hao Xu1, Shuyang Ye1, Ruyan Zhao1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.
Abstract:
Sequence-defined synthetic oligomers and polymers provide unprecedented opportunities for polymer chemists to finely control properties such as chain folding, self-assembly, and optoelectronic performance of materials. However, absolute control over both chain-length and monomer sequence has been a long-standing "grand challenge" for decades. Herein, we report a novel strategy to synthesize monodisperse sequence-defined conjugated oligomers in a homogeneous manner by temperature cycling, thereby achieving single-monomer precision in conjugated polyheterocycles. A series of sequence-defined oligomers with up to twelve repeating units, four different monomers, and various sequences were successfully synthesized. Monomer sequence was also proved to affect optical properties. We believe this strategy not only exhibits general applicability to the synthesis of group 16 conjugated oligomers and polymers, but also has far-reaching potential for other polymer systems.
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