Polymer Reactions

Academic unit or major

Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering

Instructor(s)

Hideyuki Otsuka

Class Format

Lecture (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

3-4 Wed

Class

-

Course Code

CAP.Y301

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2024

Offered quarter

1Q

Syllabus updated

Mar 14, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

Course description: This course focuses on the fundamentals of polymer chemistry, mainly for the undergraduate students, who major in the Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology. In particular, this course focuses on the polymer reactions except cross-linking reactions for the undergraduate students, who have learned fundamentals of organic chemistry and polymer synthesis. Also, this course focuses on ring-opening polymerization and living polymerization.
Course aims: Through this course, students can understand the definition and fundamentals of polymer reactions except cross-linking reactions in the field of polymer chemistry. Also, students can understand the definition and fundamentals of ring-opening polymerization and living polymerization.

Course description and aims

This course focuses on the fundamentals of polymer chemistry, mainly for the undergraduate students, who major in the Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology. By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain (i) the classification and characteristics of polymer reactions and (ii) the mechanism and examples of intramolecular and intermolecular polymer reactions.
2) Explain (i) the mechanism and examples of side-chain and chain-end functionalization of polymers and (ii) the synthetic methods of polymer architectures by polymer reactions.
3)Explain (i) the mechanism and examples of artificial and natural polymer catalysts and (ii) the degradation and recycling of polymers from the viewpoint of polymer reactions.
4) Explain (i) the characteristics of ring-opening polymerization and living polymerization and (ii) the mechanism and examples of ring-opening polymerization and living polymerization.

Keywords

Polymer Reactions, Intramolecular Reactions, Intermolecular Reactions, Side-chain Modification of Polymers, Chain-end Modification of Polymers, Polymer Architectures, Polymer Catalysts, Degradation of Polymers, Recycling of Polymers, Ring-opening Polymerization, Living Polymerization

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Lectures will be given by using PowerPoint slides. Students are often given exercise problems related to the lecture given that day to solve. To prepare for class, students should read the course schedule section and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to prepare for classes and review class contents afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Not available

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Principles of Polymerization, 4th Edition, George Odian ISBN: 978-0-471-27400-1

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students' knowledge of polymer reactions and their ability to apply them to problems will be assessed.
Final examination or report 70-80% and exercise problems 20-30%.

Related courses

• CAP.Y201 ： Polymer Chemistry Basics
• CAP.Y202 ： Polymer Synthesis I (Step-Growth Polymerization)
• CAP.Y203 ： Polymer Synthesis II (Chain Polymerizaiton)

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed both Organic Chemistry I-IV and Polymer Synthesis I-II or have equivalent knowledge.