Macromolecules organic nomenclature

On the other hand, modern nomenclature is based on the chemical structure of the macromolecules. The name of a polymer of unspecified degree of polymerization consists of the prefix poly and the name of the smallest repeating unit. With unbranched polymers, the smallest repeating unit is a diradical. The name of this diradical is the same as that met with in the nomenclature for low-molecular-weight organic diradicals. Thus, the group —CH2— is called methylene and the corresponding polymer is called poly(methylene) (example 1 in Table 1-4). The diradicals —CH2—CH2— and —CH2—CH(CH3)— do not have simple definitive names the trivial names ethylene and propylene are retained. Examples of names for other diradicals are as follows ... 

Structure-based Nomenclature for Cyclic Organic Macromolecules, Pure Appl. Chem. 80 (2008) 201. 

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Nomenclature of Regular Double-Strand (Ladder and Spiro) Organic Polymers (Recommendations 1993), PureAppL Chem., 65,1561-1580 (1993). International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Structure-Based Nomenclature for Irregular Single-Strand Organic Polymers (Recommendations 1994), PureAppL Chem., 66,873-889 (1994). International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Source-Based Nomenclature for Non-Linear Macromolecules and Macromolecular Assemblies (Recommendations 1997). PureAppL Chem., 69, 2511— 2521 (1997). 

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