STRUCTURE-BASED NOMENCLATURE FOR IRREGULAR SINGLE-STRAND ORGANIC POLYMERS - (IUPAC RECOMMENDATIONS 1994) (REPRINTED)

There is no accepted practice for the naming of many types of irregula r polymers. This document describes a structure-based nomenclature sys tem for irregular single-strand organic polymers, i.e., single-strand organic polymers that can be described by the repetition of more than one type of constitutional unit or that comprise constitutional units not all connected identically with respect to directional sense. The n ew system names irregular polymers for which the source-based system i s inadequate, e.g., polymers that have undergone partial chemical modi fication, homopolymers having both head-to-tail and head-to-head arran gements of monomeric units, and polymers derived from a single monomer that can provide more than one kind of monomeric unit. In addition, i t provides a structure-based alternative to source-based nomenclature for copolymers. Irregular polymers, oligomers, or blocks are named by placing the prefix ''poly'' before the structure-based names of the co nstitutional units; the latter are collectively enclosed in parenthese s, with the names of the component constitutional units separated by o blique strokes. Block copolymers are named by using dashes for the bon ding of blocks with each other and with,junction units. With graft and star polymers, the grafts or the arms, respectively, are considered t o be substituents to the main chain, and the structure is named in the same way as a regular or irregular polymer.