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Avoiding Disulfides: Improvement of Initiation and End‐Capping Reactions in the Synthesis of Polysulfide Block Copolymers
Author(s) -
Wang Lei,
Kilcher Giona,
Tirelli Nicola
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200800466
Subject(s) - polysulfide , copolymer , chemistry , polymerization , chain transfer , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , combinatorial chemistry , polymer , materials science , organic chemistry , radical polymerization , electrode , electrolyte
In episulfide polymerisation, the exchange between thiols and disulfides results in a chain transfer, which may compromise the control over molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Self‐assemblable polysulfide structures have found promising applications as bionanomaterials (responsive nanoparticles or vesicles, surface films, etc.), but the necessary precise molecular control may indeed be jeopardised by the presence of disulfides. We here discuss in depth the role of disulfides as chain transfer agents and present some robust solutions, aiming at minimising the presence of disulfides and optimising synthetic procedures.