The influence of polymer architecture in polymer mechanochemistry

Polymer architecture is an important factor in polymer mechanochemistry. In this Feature Article, we summarize recent developments in utilizing polymer architecture to modulate mechanochemical reactions within polymers, or more specifically, the location and rates of bond scission events that lead to polymer fragmentation or mechanophore activation. Various well-defined architectures have been explored, including those of cyclic, intramolecularly cross-linked, dendritic, star, bottlebrush, and dendronized polymers. We primarily focus on describing the enhancement or suppression of mechanochemical reactivity, with respect to analogous linear polymers, as well as differences in solution- and solid-state behavior. This Feature Article describes how cyclic, intramolecularly cross-linked, dendritic, star, bottlebrush, and dendronized polymer architectures can influence the mechanochemical reactivity of polymers.