Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Oligomers
Summary
Ring-opening polymerization of cyclic oligomers transforms low-molecular-weight macrocycles into high-performance polymers by cleaving a ring bond and linking the resulting chain ends. This approach offers precise control over polymer architecture, molecular weight distribution and end-group functionality. Unlike conventional step-growth polycondensation, which requires removal of small molecules, ring-opening routes proceed under milder conditions and with higher atom efficiency. Key monomers include lactones, cyclic carbonates and cyclic esters derived from bio-based feedstocks. Advances in catalyst design, mechanistic understanding and reaction engineering have enabled synthesising materials ranging from biodegradable polyesters to high-temperature-resistant polycarbonates. The global drive towards sustainable plastics and circular economies has elevated interest in cyclic oligomer feedstocks that can be recovered and recycled through chemical depolymerization and repolymerization cycles without loss of performance.
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Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Oligomers publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ring-opening polymerization of cyclic oligomers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cyclic oligomer: A small macrocyclic molecule composed of a few repeating units, serving as a monomer in ring-opening polymerization.
Ring-opening polymerization (ROP): A chain-growth process in which a cyclic monomer’s ring is cleaved to form a linear polymer chain.
Organocatalyst: A small organic molecule that accelerates a chemical reaction without metal centres, often by hydrogen bonding or nucleophilic activation.
Living polymerization: A polymerization mechanism where active chain ends remain reactive, allowing sequential monomer addition without termination.
Stereocomplexation: The crystallisation of polymers with complementary stereochemistry (e.g., l- and d-enantiomers), enhancing thermal and mechanical stability.
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