Microwave-assisted step-growth polymerizations (From polycondensation to C–C coupling)

Abstract

The use of microwave irradiation has become a widespread and convenient method for heating food and beverages in modern society due to the energy efficient and volumetric heating observed with microwave irradiation. The application of microwave or dielectric heating in chemistry has been limited, however, with most applications occurring in organic chemistry. This new technology provides novel approaches for enhancing the material properties. The technique offers a simple, clean, fast, efficient, and economic method for the synthesis of a large number of organic molecules, which provided the momentum for many chemists to switch from traditional heating method to microwave-assisted chemistry. In recent years, the use of microwave irradiation has become a common heat source in organic chemistry. Inspired by this enormous success, chemists are also increasingly studying microwave irradiation for polymerization reactions. Polymer technology forms one of the largest areas of application of microwave technology, and the methods and procedures used therein are among the most developed in chemistry. The main areas in which the use of this energy has been explored in recent years are step-growth polymerizations, ring-opening polymerizations, and radical polymerizations. Its specific heating method attracts extensive interest because of rapid heating, suppressed side reactions, energy saving, direct heating, decreased environmental pollution, and safe operation. In the present chapter, an overview will be given of recent applications of microwave technology in well-known stepgrowth polymerization reactions. A comparison with the conventional methods demonstrates the advantages of microwaves in synthetic condensation polymerization chemistry.