POLYMERS WITH MACROCYCLIC ARCHITECTURES - SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES

The preparation by living polymerization and the investigation of the properties of polymers with cyclic chain architectures have been recen tly undertaken. The cyclization involves a unimolecular end-to-end rea ction of a heterodifunctional linear precursor. The elementary steps o f the cyclization mechanism are examined in the light of matrix-assist ed laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) data obtai ned on linear polystyrene precursors and cyclized products. The synthe tic procedures developed to prepare macrocyclic polymers of various st ructures, as well as macrocyclic random and block copolymers are then reviewed and discussed. The main characteristics of the cyclic (co)pol ymers are compared to the corresponding linear chains and some of the original properties that are induced by the cyclic chain architecture are presented.