Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

2.2K
The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...
2.2K
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

7.8K
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.
7.8K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.4K
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...
3.4K
Polymers02:34

Polymers

35.7K
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...
35.7K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.1K
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,...
2.1K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.4K
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...
2.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Thymol Derivatives as Antimalarial Agents: Synthesis, Activity Against <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, ADMET Profiling, and Molecular Docking Insights.

Biomedicines·2026
Same author

Rapid Activation of Amino Acids with Cyanide and Hypochlorite.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025
Same author

Primitive homochiral polyester formation driven by tartaric acid and calcium availability.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Probing the Limits of Reactant Concentration and Volume in Primitive Polyphenyllactate Synthesis and Microdroplet Assembly Processes.

ACS bio & med chem Au·2025
Same author

Various Viewpoints to Investigate the Origins of Life Are Needed.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2024
Same author

Alternative Pathways in Astrobiology: Reviewing and Synthesizing Contingency and Non-Biomolecular Origins of Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Life.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.5K

Reactions Driven by Primitive Nonbiological Polyesters.

Arunava Poddar1,2, Nirmell Satthiyasilan3, Po-Hsiang Wang4,5

  • 1Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 First Ave, Floor 1, Seattle, Washington 98104, United States.

Accounts of Chemical Research
|July 16, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Exploring the origins of life (OoL), this study investigates how non-biological polymers, like polyesters from hydroxy acids, could have catalyzed reactions. This research expands our understanding of early Earth biochemistry and potential extraterrestrial life.

More Related Videos

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
05:48

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Published on: November 21, 2017

8.1K
Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
08:12

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.5K
Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
05:48

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Published on: November 21, 2017

8.1K
Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
08:12

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.3K

Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Life on Earth originates from cellular structures driven by biological reactions and biomolecules.
  • The origins of life (OoL) field primarily investigates the emergence of essential biomolecules like amino acids.
  • This focus overlooks the potential role of abundant, non-biological molecules in early Earth's biochemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential role of hydroxy acids and their derived polymers (polyesters) in the origins of life.
  • To investigate whether non-biological polyesters can contribute catalytic functions and drive primitive reactions.
  • To broaden the scope of OoL research beyond traditional biomolecules and consider alternative chemical pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Reviewing existing research from the origins of life field.
  • Examining studies from industry and applied sciences on non-biological polyesters.
  • Analyzing the catalytic and reaction-driving potential of linear polymers, hyperbranched polyesters, and microdroplets.

Main Results:

  • Hydroxy acids, though not traditionally considered essential biomolecules, were likely abundant on early Earth.
  • These hydroxy acids can spontaneously form polyesters, suggesting a plausible prebiotic pathway.
  • Research indicates potential for polyester-based systems in compartment assembly, growth, and possibly catalysis.

Conclusions:

  • Non-biological polyesters warrant further investigation as contributors to the origins of life.
  • Understanding these polymers can shed light on the plausibility of extraterrestrial life with non-standard biochemistry.
  • Further research is crucial to determine if these "non-biological" polymers can drive primitive reactions and catalysis.