Advanced Polymer Synthesis

Abstract

The course covers modern methods of polymer synthesis both in theory and practice on a high level. It should enable to develop reasonable synthesis schemes for certain target structures and also to predict how a given macromolecule could possibly organize into a secondary or tertiary structure.

Objective

The course provides the students with a high-level overview of modern methods of polymer synthesis both in theory and practice. It should enable them to develop reasonable synthesis schemes for certain target structures and also to predict how a given macromolecule could possible organize into a secondary or even tertiary structure. For all polymers presented, potential or real applicatios will be discussed. The practical course will provide the students with a substantial insight into the problems associated with synthesizing polymers, proving their molecular structure, determining their molecular weight, and testing of some properties.

Content

Though an emphasis is placed on covalent procedures in solution leading to single-stranded, linear polymers, other methods (e.g., polymerizations in organized media) as well as structurally more complex polymers will also be addressed. Implications certain structural elements have on the supramolecular ordering of polymers will be discussed throughout. The nowadays important aspect of how to create nanoscale molecular objects will also be treated. Outline for class 1 (Advanced synthesis of polymers):advanced methods (metal-mediated polycondensations, condensative chain, topochemical, and enzymatic polymerization), rod polymers, conjugated and ladder polymers, block and rod coil copolymers, supramolecular polymers, macrocycles, dendrimers, hyperbranched and dendronized polymers, molecular brushes, 2D polymers, networks (interpenetrating; temporary; shape memory polymers), polyrotaxanes, polycatenanes, nanotubesOutline for class 2 (Supramolecular and applicational aspects of macromolecular materials): (bio)polymers with secondary structures (helicity, foldamers), higher order structures, intermolecular interactions (e.g. H-bonding networks), vesicles, micelles, colloids, ordered aggregates and nanoscopic objects (e.g. from rod coil polymers), liquid crystalline polymers, electrically conducting polymers and polymers for electrooptical applications, imprinted polymers, hybrid materials, templated mineralization and crystallization, biodegradable and biocompatible materials

Resources