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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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...
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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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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,...
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

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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...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)01:16

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Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...

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Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions
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Published on: October 10, 2013

Mechanically interlocking cyclic star polymers quenches solvent-dependent properties.

Davide Breoni1,2, Emanuele Locatelli3,4, Luca Tubiana1,2

  • 1Department of Physics, Università di Trento, Via Sommarive 14, I-38123 Trento, Italy.

The Journal of Chemical Physics
|May 20, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Star polymers with cyclic arms show increased mechanical interlocking in poor solvents. Arm functionality and length critically influence interlocking complexity and the formation of mechanically interlocked structures.

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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Computational Chemistry

Background:

  • Star polymers are complex macromolecules with potential applications in nanotechnology.
  • Mechanical interlocking in polymers is a key factor influencing material properties.
  • Cyclization of polymer arms can lead to unique topological structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of solvent quality on the mechanical interlocking of star polymers with cyclic arms.
  • To explore the relationship between polymer architecture (functionality, arm length) and interlocking complexity.
  • To understand how solvent-induced conformational changes affect star polymer properties.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to model star polymers.
  • The study simulated star polymers with cyclic arms formed via click reactions.
  • Analysis focused on mechanical interlocking complexity and radius of gyration under varying solvent conditions.

Main Results:

  • Polymers with long arms cyclized in poor solvents exhibit higher mechanical interlocking than those in good solvents.
  • Star polymers cyclized in poor solvents and then transferred to good solvents show a reduced radius of gyration.
  • The number of arms (functionality) significantly affects interlocking in poor solvents, with low functionality promoting higher interlocking.

Conclusions:

  • Solvent quality plays a crucial role in determining the mechanical interlocking of star polymers with cyclic arms.
  • Cyclization in a poor solvent can 'quench' solvent-dependent properties, leading to smaller radii of gyration in good solvents.
  • A critical arm length relative to the core circumference is necessary for the formation of a single mechanically interlocked blob.