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

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

3.1K
Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
3.1K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.5K
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,...
2.5K
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)00:53

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)

2.2K
Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization or ADMET polymerization involves cross-metathesis of terminal dienes, such as 1,8-nonadiene, to give linear unsaturated polymer and ethylene. As ADMET is a reversible process, the formed ethylene gas must be removed from the reaction mixture to complete the polymerization process.
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
2.2K
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

2.5K
Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
2.5K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

4.3K
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...
4.3K
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

3.7K
Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
3.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Ozonolysis as a Pathway for the Depolymerization and Chemical Recycling of Polyvinyl Chloride.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Ionic-content-driven restructuring of spirobisindane ionene networks: implications for mechanics, self-healing, and gas transport.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Glycerol-Derived Liquids with Dual Functional Groups: Nonsymmetric (E/Z)-Isomeric Mixtures of 1,3-Diether-2-Alkenes.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025
Same author

Degree of Cure, Microstructures, and Properties of Carbon/Epoxy Composites Processed via Frontal Polymerization.

Polymers·2024
Same author

Bio-based ether solvent and ionic liquid electrolyte for sustainable sodium-air batteries.

Faraday discussions·2023
Same author

Enhancing CO<sub>2</sub> Transport Across a PEEK-Ionene Membrane and Water-Lean Solvent Interface.

ChemSusChem·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
11:17

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Published on: January 19, 2016

23.0K

Styrene-Imidazoles as Tunable Brønsted-Basic Monomers for pH-Responsive Polymers.

Zahra Sekhavat Pour1, Ali Alshaikh1, Grace K Thompson1

  • 1Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0203, United States.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 2, 2025
PubMed
Summary

New styrene-imidazole (Sty-Im) polymers show tunable pH-responsive swelling. These Brønsted-basic polymers are promising for applications requiring water-insoluble, pH-sensitive materials.

More Related Videos

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
09:22

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives

Published on: February 7, 2017

8.2K
Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
07:39

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

Published on: June 8, 2016

9.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
11:17

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Published on: January 19, 2016

23.0K
Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
09:22

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives

Published on: February 7, 2017

8.2K
Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
07:39

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

Published on: June 8, 2016

9.9K

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

  • The styrene-imidazole (Sty-Im) motif is a versatile building block for ionic liquid (IL)-based materials.
  • Applications include ion-exchange membranes, gas separation, and catalysis.
  • The direct polymerization and pH-responsive behavior of Sty-Im monomers remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and characterize novel Brønsted-basic polymers from Sty-Im monomers.
  • To investigate the pH-responsive swelling behavior of these polymers.
  • To explore the tunability of Sty-Im polymers for specific applications.

Main Methods:

  • One-step synthesis of 1-vinylbenzyl-imidazole (Sty-Im) and 1-vinylbenzyl-2-methylimidazole (Sty-2-Me-Im) monomers.
  • Bulk polymerization of monomers in PTFE molds to form disc-shaped samples.
  • Testing pH-responsive swelling in acidic environments (HCl, citric acid) at various pH levels.

Main Results:

  • Both poly(Sty-Im) and poly(Sty-2-Me-Im) exhibited pH-responsive swelling, increasing at lower pH due to imidazole protonation.
  • Poly(Sty-2-Me-Im) showed significantly higher swelling than poly(Sty-Im).
  • Swelling varied with acid type and counteranion, with greater swelling in citric acid than HCl at equivalent pH.

Conclusions:

  • The Sty-Im motif provides a tunable platform for creating water-insoluble, pH-responsive polymers.
  • These materials demonstrate potential for applications sensitive to pH changes.
  • The observed swelling behavior is influenced by acid type and counteranion interactions.