A network polymer with photoinduced mending ability is prepared from a cinnamoyl-telechelic prepolymer and a tetra-cinnamoyl linker by photodimerization. Though the trans–cis isomerization competes with the dimerization of cinnamates, the dimerization primarily proceeds at a temperature higher than the melting point of the prepolymer. When a film of the network polymer is damaged, cinnamate dimers in the polymer are dissociated to form cinnamate monomers. These monomers can be dimerized again by photoirradiation to recover the network structure.
- Nobuhiro Oya
- Petty Sukarsaatmadja
- Naoko Yoshie
