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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
Published on: December 16, 2022
Controlled Synthesis of Topologically Diverse Polyrotaxanes by Ring-Opening Polymerization of Mechanically
Jinlei Zhou1, Wensen Chen2,3, Zengquan Tian4
1College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300071, China.
Abstract:
Mechanically interlocked polymers (MIPs) offer unconventional architectures that expand the design space of polymer chemistry, making them an emerging focus of polymer and supramolecular science. Yet their synthesis still lacks the precision and control established in conventional polymer chemistry. We report a living ring-opening polymerization that enables controlled construction of topologically diverse polyrotaxanes from two monomers─[2]catenanes and c[1]daisy chains. The method delivers main-chain and daisy-chain architectures with predictable molecular weights, narrow dispersities (Đ ≤ 1.19), and block copolymer access. Comparative studies reveal topology-dependent reactivity, underscoring the role of conformational constraints in polymerization kinetics. This unified route establishes a versatile platform for programmable MIP synthesis, bridging molecular topology with materials design and paving the way for next-generation mechanically bonded polymers.
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