CHEM 773-7730 - Aqueous Self-Assembly
Semester: Fall 2026
Professor: X. Wang | Discipline: Polymer | Campus: WaterlooDescription
This course introduces living and controlled polymerization techniques for the synthesis of polymers with well-defined molecular structures, including control of molecular weight, chemical composition, and polymer architecture. Major approaches include anionic polymerization, living free-radical polymerization, ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and chain-growth condensation polymerization.
Learning objectives
- Understand the concepts and mechanisms of living and controlled polymerization.
- Understand and apply advanced living polymerization techniques for the synthesis of polymers with controlled molecular weight, composition and architecture.
- Compare different living polymerization techniques, including their principles, advantages, limitations and appropriate applications.
- Explain how controlled polymer synthesis enables new polymer structures, materials and applications, and critically consider future developments.
Course topics
- Introduction to living polymerization.
- Anionic polymerization
- Living free radical polymerization
- Ring-opening metathesis polymerization
- Chain growth condensation polymerization
- Supramolecular chemistry of well-defined polymers.
Expectation of student commitment to the course
Attend the lectures (3 hours/week). Four after-class hours are expected to be devoted to the course for literature reading and presentation preparation.
Materials
Lecture handouts
Journal papers and review articles
Controlled and Living Polymerizations: From Mechanisms to Applications Edited by Krzysztof Matyjaszewski and Axel H. E. Müller
Evaluation
The course will be evaluated through a midterm and a final examination. A detailed description of the examinations and evaluation criteria will be provided in a separate document.
Midterm examination:
A take-home examination consisting of three questions covering the teaching materials from the first half of the course.
Final examination:
An essay discussing the progress of living and controlled polymerization techniques, including important technical developments and their material applications.
The presentation will be an additional assessment but will not count toward the final grade.
Lab/Project
TBA
Schedule
- Tue: 7:00 pm - 9:20 pm in C2 278
