Polymer Science and Polymer Chemistry

Functional Polymers

Functional polymers are macromolecules to which chemically bound functional groups are attached which can be utilised as reagents, catalysts, protecting groups, etc. The polymer support can be either a linear species which is soluble or a cross-linked species which is insoluble. For a polymer to be used as a support, it should have significant mechanical stability under the reaction conditions. Such properties of the support have greater importance for the functionalization reaction and for the applications of the functional polymers.

The polymer properties can be modified either by chemical reactions on pendant groups or by changing the physical Nature of the polymers, such as their physical form, porosity and solvation behaviour. Such properties have a great importance for the functionalization reactions for the eventual applications of the reactive polymers.