Telechelic polymer

A telechelic polymer or oligomer is a prepolymer capable of entering into further polymerization or other reactions through its reactive end-groups. It can be used for example to synthesize block copolymers.

By definition, a telechelic polymer is a di-end-functional polymer where both ends possess the same functionality. Where the chain-ends of the polymer are not of the same functionality they are termed di-end-functional polymers.

All polymers resulting from living polymerization are end-functional but may not necessarily be telechelic.

Telechelic polymers with different number of reactive end groups can be termed according to the number of end-groups as “hemi-” (one), “di-” (two),” and “tri-telechelic” (three) polymers. When it presents many end groups it is called “polytelechelic”.

To prepare polymers by step-growth polymerization, telechelic polymers like polymeric diols and epoxy prepolymers can be used. The main examples are:

• Polyether diols;
• Polyester diols;
• Polycarbonate diols: Polyhexamethylene carbonate diol (PHMCD);
• Polyalcadiene diols: Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (PBHT)...

Other examples of telechelic polymers are the halato-telechelic polymers or halatopolymers. The end-groups of these polymers are ionic or ionizable like carboxylate or quaternary ammonium groups.