Linear polymeric polyradicals

Fig. 10 Topological classification of linear polymeric polyradicals, including a scheme showing the importance of regiospecific connectivity.

The spiro polymerization is a novel reaction type that uses the spiro dimerization of o-QMs to build up linear oligomers and polymers. The basic properties of the spiro dimer of a-tocopherol, that is, its fluxional structure and its ready reduction to the ethano-dimer, remain also active when such structural units are bound in the polymer. The products of the reaction, both in its poly(spiro dimeric) form (41) and in the form of the reduced polytocopherols (42), are interesting materials for application as high-capacity antioxidants, polyradical precursors, or organic metals, to name but a few. 

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