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Related Concept Videos

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

3.4K
The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this species into...
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Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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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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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

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The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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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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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Facile and Efficient Preparation of Tri-component Fluorescent Glycopolymers via RAFT-controlled Polymerization
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Facile and Efficient Preparation of Tri-component Fluorescent Glycopolymers via RAFT-controlled Polymerization

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Beyond Traditional RAFT Polymerization: Emerging Strategies and Future Perspectives; A Third Update.

Vianna F Jafari1, James L Grace1, Jiajia Li2

  • 1Polymer Science Group, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|January 14, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is advancing with AI-driven synthesis and depolymerization for sustainable plastics. This review covers innovations from 2020-2025 in precision polymer synthesis.

Keywords:
controlled/living polymerizationphotochemistrypolymer structuresreversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)

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

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Organic Synthesis

Background:

  • Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, developed in 1998, offers precise control over polymer synthesis.
  • Recent years have seen significant advancements, expanding its utility beyond traditional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the latest innovations in non-traditional RAFT polymerization from 2020 to 2025.
  • To highlight emerging trends and future potential in precision polymer synthesis and sustainable materials.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature (2020-2025) focusing on RAFT polymerization.
  • Analysis of new activation techniques, smart synthesis platforms, and depolymerization strategies.

Main Results:

  • Integration of RAFT with artificial intelligence for autonomous polymer discovery and high-throughput synthesis.
  • Development of novel RAFT depolymerization methods for effective plastic recycling.
  • Expansion of RAFT applications into diverse materials science fields.

Conclusions:

  • RAFT polymerization continues to evolve, offering enhanced control and new applications.
  • Future directions include AI-driven polymer design and circular economy contributions through depolymerization.