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Related Concept Videos

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)

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...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

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...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael acceptor.
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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,...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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 the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
06:49

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Published on: April 22, 2016

Supramolecular Arene-Perfluoroarene Assembly Enhances Photoiniferter Polymerization Kinetics.

Joshua D Marquez1, Cole D Stearns1, Kevin A Stewart1

  • 1George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Producing ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polymers is now faster using alternating photoiniferter copolymerization. This method enhances polymerization rates by over 2000% through designed monomer interactions.

Keywords:
Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polymersalternating copolymerizationmaterials sciencepolymer chemistryradical polymerizationsupramolecular assemblysupramolecular chemistry

More Related Videos

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

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

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

Published on: September 26, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
06:49

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Published on: April 22, 2016

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

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

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
  • Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

  • Ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polymers possess unique properties due to physical entanglements.
  • Synthesizing UHMW styrenic polymers is difficult due to slow homopolymerization kinetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To overcome limitations in producing UHMW styrenic polymers.
  • To explore the role of arene-perfluoroarene (AP) interactions in accelerating copolymerization.

Main Methods:

  • Alternating photoiniferter copolymerization of methoxy-functionalized styrenic monomers and pentafluorostyrene.
  • Density functional theory (DFT) calculations to analyze monomer interactions.
  • Characterization of thermomechanical properties and polymerization rates.

Main Results:

  • Significant rate enhancements (up to 2000%) in copolymerization compared to styrene homopolymerization.
  • Methoxy substitution on styrene correlates with electronic complementarity and rate acceleration.
  • Developed UHMW trialkoxystyrene copolymers with tunable properties, including ultrasoft and highly extensible materials.

Conclusions:

  • Designed supramolecular association is a powerful strategy for controlling reactivity in radical polymerization.
  • This approach enables the synthesis of challenging UHMW polymers with tailored properties.
  • The method provides a pathway to novel materials with advanced thermomechanical behavior.