title: Controlled Polymerization of Multivinyl Monomers: Formation of Cyclized/Knotted Single-Chain Polymer Architectures.
abstract: Seventy years ago, Flory and Stockmayer predicted that the polymerization of multivinyl monomers (MVMs) would inevitably lead to insoluble cross-linked gel networks. Since then, the use of MVMs has largely been limited to as cross-linking agents. More recently, however, polymerization strategies such as reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) have paved the way for the exploration of new possibilities in terms of both polymer architectures and functional capabilities. This Minireview provides historical context to the problem of polymerizing MVMs, before highlighting how RDRP has led to the formation of new cyclized/knotted polymer structures. Although the potential of such cyclized/knot polymer architectures is far from being fulfilled, some emerging applications are discussed.
authors: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.|Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Yongsheng
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung, Dresden, Germany.|Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Newland
authors: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.|Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Dezhong
authors: D
authors: Zhou
authors: Center for Macromolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Matyjaszewski
authors: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.|Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Wenxin
authors: W
authors: Wang
keywords: controlled/living radical polymerization; cyclized/knotted single-chain polymers; hyperbranched polymers; multivinyl monomers