Recent Advances in Functional Polyisoprene: From Precision Synthesis to Smart Elastomers
- 1College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
- 2Engineering Research Center of High-Performance Polymer and Molding Technology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Abstract
Polyisoprene is an important elastomer with a tunable microstructure and a hydrocarbon backbone analogous to the rubber component of natural rubber. However, conventional synthetic polyisoprene lacks the complex intermolecular interactions associated with non-rubber components in natural rubber, limiting its mechanical performance and functional versatility. Recent advances in precision polymerization and functionalization provide new opportunities for developing high-performance and adaptive polyisoprene elastomers. This review summarizes progress in polyisoprene precision synthesis, microstructure control, and functionalization, with emphasis on the relationships among molecular structure, chemical reactivity, network architecture, and macroscopic properties. Coordination and living/controlled polymerization enable regulation of stereoregularity, molecular weight, and chain-end functionality, while epoxidation, hydroxyl functionalization, halogenation, click chemistry, and grafting provide versatile routes to functional polyisoprene. Dynamic covalent bonds and supramolecular interactions further enable reinforced, self-healing, reprocessable, recyclable, and stimuli-responsive elastomers. Importantly, their overall performance depends on balancing chain mobility, intermolecular interactions, network stability, and bond-exchange dynamics. Finally, emerging applications and challenges in multifunctionality and sustainability are discussed, providing molecular-design principles for next-generation functional polyisoprene elastomers.
Related
- From Plant Metabolites to Functional Nanomaterials: Advances in Phytochemical-Mediated Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis and Applications
- Fluoride-Free Siloxane Circularity at Room Temperature: Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide as a Dual-Functional De- and Repolymerization Initiator for Silicone Oils, Elastomers, and Hybrid Coatings
- Investigating Topological Parameters in Polymers: Precision Synthesis of Trefoil Polymers from a Knotted Synthon.
- Recent advances in synthesis of nitrogen-centered chiral compounds
- Precision synthesis and mechanochemical structure–reactivity relationships of mechanophore-bearing polymers with diverse conformations
BibTeX
@article{ma2026recent,
title = {{Recent Advances in Functional Polyisoprene: From Precision Synthesis to Smart Elastomers}},
author = {Ji Ma and Guangye Liu and Dandan Liu and Naixiu Ding and Lixia He},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202474},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2474},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Recent Advances in Functional Polyisoprene: From Precision Synthesis to Smart Elastomers
AU - Ji Ma
AU - Guangye Liu
AU - Dandan Liu
AU - Naixiu Ding
AU - Lixia He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202474
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2474
AB - Polyisoprene is an important elastomer with a tunable microstructure and a hydrocarbon backbone analogous to the rubber component of natural rubber. However, conventional synthetic polyisoprene lacks the complex intermolecular interactions associated with non-rubber components in natural rubber, limiting its mechanical performance and functional versatility. Recent advances in precision polymerization and functionalization provide new opportunities for developing high-performance and adaptive polyisoprene elastomers. This review summarizes progress in polyisoprene precision synthesis, microstructure control, and functionalization, with emphasis on the relationships among molecular structure, chemical reactivity, network architecture, and macroscopic properties. Coordination and living/controlled polymerization enable regulation of stereoregularity, molecular weight, and chain-end functionality, while epoxidation, hydroxyl functionalization, halogenation, click chemistry, and grafting provide versatile routes to functional polyisoprene. Dynamic covalent bonds and supramolecular interactions further enable reinforced, self-healing, reprocessable, recyclable, and stimuli-responsive elastomers. Importantly, their overall performance depends on balancing chain mobility, intermolecular interactions, network stability, and bond-exchange dynamics. Finally, emerging applications and challenges in multifunctionality and sustainability are discussed, providing molecular-design principles for next-generation functional polyisoprene elastomers.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -