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Independent Control of Elastomer Properties through Stereocontrolled Synthesis
Author(s) -
Bell Craig A.,
Yu Jiayi,
Barker Ian A.,
Truong Vinh X.,
Cao Zhen,
Dobrinyin Andrey V.,
Becker Matthew L.,
Dove Andrew P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201606750
Subject(s) - elastomer , crystallinity , monomer , molar mass , materials science , surface modification , polymerization , vulcanization , polymer , polymer chemistry , polymer science , stereospecificity , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , natural rubber , catalysis , engineering
In most synthetic elastomers, changing the physical properties by monomer choice also results in a change to the crystallinity of the material, which manifests through alteration of its mechanical performance. Using organocatalyzed stereospecific additions of thiols to activated alkynes, high‐molar‐mass elastomers were isolated via step‐growth polymerization. The resulting controllable double‐bond stereochemistry defines the crystallinity and the concomitant mechanical properties as well as enabling the synthesis of materials that retain their excellent mechanical properties through changing monomer composition. Using this approach to elastomer synthesis, further end group modification and toughening through vulcanization strategies are also possible. The organocatalytic control of stereochemistry opens the realm to a new and easily scalable class of elastomers that will have unique chemical handles for functionalization and post synthetic processing.