Heterofunctional telechelic polymethylene: from precise synthesis to diverse polyolefin-like polymers.
- 1State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
- 2School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Abstract
Telechelic polyolefins are key building blocks for constructing state-of-the-art polyolefins bearing in-chain functionalities such as ester groups, which have attracted significant attention over recent years. However, the precise synthesis of such α,ω-heterofunctional telechelic polyolefins remains challenging. In this study, polyhomologation is used for the synthesis of α-ester-ω-hydroxy telechelic polymethylenes (bearing hexyl side-chains) through the boron-initiated polyhomologation of ylide monomers. These telechelic polymers are structurally similar to telechelic polyolefins. This method allows for precise control over the end-group fidelity ([OH, COOMe] > 99%) and molecular weight, with particularly narrow molecular weight distributions (Ð = 1.05-1.21) being achieved. Consequently, this approach enables the production of diverse topologies including linear, branched (side-chain), and block structures. Notably, the molecular weight of telechelic polymethylenes was precisely tailored as required. The obtained telechelic polymethylenes serve as AB-type macromonomers and undergo direct polycondensation to afford high-molecular-weight (147-300 kDa) polyolefin-like polymers featuring in-chain ester groups, imparting diverse microstructures and topologies including high-density polyethylene (PE), polyolefin elastomer (POE), and random as well as alternating olefin block copolymers (OBC).
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BibTeX
@article{yao2026heterofunctional,
title = {{Heterofunctional telechelic polymethylene: from precise synthesis to diverse polyolefin-like polymers.}},
author = {Xiukuan Yao and Yuxing Zhang and Kangkang Li and Zhongbao Jian},
journal = {National science review},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1093/nsr/nwag471},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953297},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Heterofunctional telechelic polymethylene: from precise synthesis to diverse polyolefin-like polymers.
AU - Xiukuan Yao
AU - Yuxing Zhang
AU - Kangkang Li
AU - Zhongbao Jian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - National science review
DO - 10.1093/nsr/nwag471
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953297
AB - Telechelic polyolefins are key building blocks for constructing state-of-the-art polyolefins bearing in-chain functionalities such as ester groups, which have attracted significant attention over recent years. However, the precise synthesis of such α,ω-heterofunctional telechelic polyolefins remains challenging. In this study, polyhomologation is used for the synthesis of α-ester-ω-hydroxy telechelic polymethylenes (bearing hexyl side-chains) through the boron-initiated polyhomologation of ylide monomers. These telechelic polymers are structurally similar to telechelic polyolefins. This method allows for precise control over the end-group fidelity ([OH, COOMe] > 99%) and molecular weight, with particularly narrow molecular weight distributions (Ð = 1.05-1.21) being achieved. Consequently, this approach enables the production of diverse topologies including linear, branched (side-chain), and block structures. Notably, the molecular weight of telechelic polymethylenes was precisely tailored as required. The obtained telechelic polymethylenes serve as AB-type macromonomers and undergo direct polycondensation to afford high-molecular-weight (147-300 kDa) polyolefin-like polymers featuring in-chain ester groups, imparting diverse microstructures and topologies including high-density polyethylene (PE), polyolefin elastomer (POE), and random as well as alternating olefin block copolymers (OBC).
SN - 2095-5138
SN - 2053-714X
ER -