title: 3D single cyclized polymer chain structure from controlled polymerization of multi-vinyl monomers: beyond Flory-Stockmayer theory.
abstract: Controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) is a widely used technique that allows the synthesis of defined polymer architectures through precise control of molecular weights and distributions. However, the architectures of polymers prepared by the CRP techniques are limited to linear, cross-linked, and branched/dendritic structures. Here, we report the preparation of a new 3D single cyclized polymer chain structure from an in situ deactivation enhanced atom transfer radical polymerization of multivinyl monomers (MVMs), which are conventionally used for the production of branched/cross-linked polymeric materials as defined by P. Flory and W. Stockmayer nearly 70 years ago. We provide new evidence to demonstrate that it is possible to kinetically control both the macromolecular architecture and the critical gelling point in the polymerization of MVMs, suggesting the classical Flory-Stockmayer mean field theory should be supplemented with a new kinetic theory based on the space and instantaneous growth boundary concept.
authors: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: Hongliang
authors: H
authors: Cao
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Newland
authors: Yixiao
authors: Y
authors: Dong
authors: Abhay
authors: A
authors: Pandit
authors: Wenxin
authors: W
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D003500:Cyclization; D007700:Kinetics; D015394:Molecular Structure; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls