Ethylene Oxide Polymers: Synthesis, Modification, Topology, and Applications

Hongying Shen

Hongying Shen

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Polymers and Polymer Composite Materials, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

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Guowei Wang

Guowei Wang

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Polymers and Polymer Composite Materials, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

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Abstract

This article reviews the synthesis, modification, topology, and applications of ethylene oxide polymers (PEGs). The synthetic strategies presented involve the anionic ring-opening polymerization, cationic ring-opening polymerization, coordination polymerization, aluminum-activated polymerization, and metal-free polymerization. The modification concerns the mPEG derivatives, telechelic and heterotelechelic PEG. PEGs topologies discussed are focused on the block, star-shaped, hyperbranched, and dendrimer-like polymers. Based on the well-defined modification and topology construction of PEGs, their applications in bioconjugation (or PEGylation) and pharmaceutical field, as well as in solid electrolyte, separation science, and support resins are presented. The article aims to help the readers to comprehensively understand the recent progress on PEGs and motivate further interest on these “evergreen” polymers.

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