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ABSTRACT Cyclic polymers have drawn considerable interest for their peculiar physical properties in comparison to linear polymers, despite their equivalent compositions. Synthetically, cyclic polymers can be accessed through either macrocyclic ring‐closure or by ring‐expansion polymerization, but the main challenge with either method is the production of highly pure cyclic polymer samples. This highlight describes advances in the area of cyclic polymer synthesis, with a particular focus on ring‐expansion metathesis polymerization. Methods for characterizing cyclic polymers and assessing their purity are also discussed in order to emphasize the need for additional robust and reliable methods for synthesizing and studying topologically complex macromolecules. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2019,57, 228–242
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Bridging Frontiers in Macromolecular and Supramolecular Sciences with Living Cationic Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Self‐Organizable Dendronized Cyclic‐Imino Ethers Generating Soft Frank–Kasper and Quasicrystal Arrays
Abstract Living cationic ring‐opening polymerization accompanied by isomerization of cyclic imino ethers is performed at high temperatures that provide access to the synthesis of self‐organizable systems in their isotropic melt or solution state. This Perspective discusses fundamental mechanistic principles of this polymerization and bridges with the polymerization of dendronized cyclic iminoethers forming polymers that self‐organize soft Frank–Kasper and quasicrystal periodic and quasiperiodic arrays. These two fields represent frontiers in macromolecular and supramolecular science. A brief discussion of the impact of this polymerization on biomaterials and how it impacted contemporary mechanistic investigations is also made. Expected impacts via future synthetic developments and mechanistic investigations are discussed.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2104554
- PAR ID:
- 10552126
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
- Volume:
- 226
- Issue:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 1022-1352
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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