Molecular design strategies for mechanochemically active polymers

Abstract

Mechanophores are mols. that undergo selective chem. transformations in response to applied mech. force. Covalent incorporation of mechanophores in polymers enables the coupling of mech. stress to covalent bond activation - an emerging field of research termed polymer mechanochem. We present new mol. design approaches for harnessing mech. force in polymers to promote useful chem. transformations. For example, targeted applications include the generation of photoactive compds. using mechanochem. to reveal locations of mech. stress in polymeric materials and release of small mols. using force.