Azo Polymer Syntheses

Abstract

This chapter discusses different ways to obtain azo polymers. Like other functional polymers, azo polymers can be synthesized by polymerization and copolymerization of monomers that contain azo functional groups or by chemical modification of a suitable precursor polymer to introduce the azo functional groups after polymerization. The chain polymerization and step polymerization are discussed as the two typical ways to obtain azo homopolymers and random copolymers. Controlled radical polymerization is introduced as a new way to synthesize azo polymers with well-controlled molecular weight and distribution. Then, the ways to obtain azo block and graft copolymers, azo dendritic and star polymers, and azo hyperbranched polymers are discussed separately in each section in detail. Finally, syntheses of azo polymers with π-conjugated backbone and azobenzene-containing polypeptide are presented as separate sections due to their unique characteristics.