What is it about?

There are two systems of naming polymers that are elaborated by IUPAC: structure-based nomenclature and source-based nomenclature. The system that finds the widest use is source-based nomenclature and is by far the one preferred by the polymer community for its ease of application. Being based solely on the name of the monomer from which the polymer is derived it is far simpler to arrive at a name than through the complex rules that have to be negotiated in order to obtain a structure-based name. For the first time ever, this paper elaborates in full the structural features that need to be considered in order to arrive at a proper source-based name of a polymer or copolymer and addresses issues such as the acceptability of commonly used traditional names. An appendix tabulates the corresponding source-based, structure-based and, where appropriate, traditional names of many polymers.

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Why is it important?

Although the source-based nomenclature of copolymers and of non-linear macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies have been addressed in earlier IUPAC publications, this is the first time that the basic principles of source-based nomenclature of polymers have been addressed generally.

Perspectives

As indicated in the above sections, this publication wraps up the subject of polymer source-based nomenclature in a single package. Bringing to completion a task that was long overdue was well worth the effort.

Richard Jones

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Source-based nomenclature for single-strand homopolymers and copolymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2016), Pure and Applied Chemistry, November 2016, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/pac-2015-0702.
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