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Recent work on entropically‐driven ring‐opening polymerizations: some potential applications
Author(s) -
Hodge Philip,
Colquhoun Howard M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.555
Subject(s) - ring (chemistry) , monomer , polymer , polymerization , materials science , supramolecular chemistry , polymer science , ring opening polymerization , work (physics) , unit (ring theory) , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , molecule , thermodynamics , physics , composite material , mathematics , mathematics education
The entropically‐driven ring‐opening polymerization of macrocyclic monomers (> ca . 14 ring atoms per repeat unit) and/or macrocyclic oligomers is a relatively new method of polymer synthesis that exploits the well‐known phenomenon of ring‐chain equilibria. It attracts interest because of its novel features. For example, these ring‐opening polymerizations emit no volatiles and little or no heat. This review considers the principles of entropically‐driven ring‐opening polymerizations, gives selected examples and discusses potential applications. The latter include micromolding, high throughput syntheses and the synthesis of supramolecular polymers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.