Telechelic polymer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A telechelic polymer or oligomer is a prepolymer capable of entering into further polymerization or other reactions through its reactive end-groups.[1] It can be used for example to synthesize block copolymers.
By definition, a telechelic polymer is a di-end-functional polymer where both ends possess the same functionality.[2] Where the chain-ends of the polymer are not of the same functionality they are termed di-end-functional polymers.
All polymers resulting from living polymerization are end-functional but may not necessarily be telechelic.[2]
Telechelic polymers with different number of reactive end groups can be termed according to the number of end-groups as “hemi-” (one), “di-” (two),” and “tri-telechelic” (three) polymers. When it presents many end groups it is called “polytelechelic”.[3]
To prepare polymers by step-growth polymerization, telechelic polymers like polymeric diols and epoxy prepolymers can be used. The main examples are:
- Polyether diols;
- Polyester diols;
- Polycarbonate diols: Polyhexamethylene carbonate diol (PHMCD);
- Polyalcadiene diols: Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (PBHT)...
Other examples of telechelic polymers are the halato-telechelic polymers or halatopolymers.[4] The end-groups of these polymers are ionic or ionizable like carboxylate or quaternary ammonium groups.