Diallyldimethylammonium chloride and its polymers

The pyrrolidimium structure resulting from the cyclopolymerization of the w ater soluble monomer diallyldimethylammonium chloride is present in a varie ty of advanced polymeric materials. These materials range from water solubl e polyelectrolytes to highly ordered solids. Applied research on diallyldim ethylammonium chloride has been performed in order to optimize the monomer and polymer syntheses, characterize the polymers produced, improve the mate rial properties as well as the applied technologies, and to develop new pro ducts. In addition, fundamental research has included the study of polyelec trolyte behavior of diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymers in solution. This article comprehensively reviews the work on diallyldimethylammonium ch loride summarizing the current knowledge and recent progress in the field o f kinetics and mechanism of homo- and copolymer syntheses, chemical structu res, polyelectrolyte behavior in solution, molecular characterization, and interactions in solution and at interfaces. In particular, peculiarities of the syntheses and characterization resulting from polyelectrolyte influenc es are discussed in detail. A variety of current and emerging applications are presented.