Handbook of Telechelic Polyesters, Polycarbonates, and Polyethers

Telechelic polymers have garnered a great deal of scientific interest due to their reactive chain-end functions. This comprehensive book compiles and details basic principles and cutting-edge research in telechelic polyesters, polyethers, and polycarbonates, ranging from synthesis to applications. It discusses general strategies towards telechelic polymers, centered on fundamental aspects of polycondensation reactions of cationic, anionic, coordination-insertion, and activated monomer mechanisms of the metal-, enzyme-, or otherwise organo-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers and of post-polymerization chemical modification methods of polymer precursors. All main classes of polymers are covered separately, comprising polyhydroxyalkanoates, poly(-caprolactone)s, poly(lactic acid)s, and polylactides, including synthetic approaches as well as some illustrative up-to-date examples and uses. It also addresses more largely polyethers (poly(ethylene oxide), poly(tetrahydrofuran), fluorinated polyethers), and polycarbonates [bisphenol-A polycarbonate, poly(propylene carbonate), poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(cyclohexene carbonate)]. It also discusses applications of hydroxyl, thiol, amino, or acrylate/methacrylate end-capped polymers as starting materials for the preparation of diverse polymer architectures ranging from block, graft, star-shaped polymers, and micelles to precursors for ATRP macroinitiators, polyurethane copolymers, shape-memory polymers, or nanosized drug-delivery systems. The book will appeal to polymer chemists in academia and industry.