Term: chain transfer
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00963

Definition:
The abstraction, by the radical end of a growing chain-polymer, of an atom from another molecule. The growth of the polymer chain is thereby terminated but a new radical, capable of chain propagation and polymerization, is simultaneously created. For the example of alkene polymerization cited for a chain reaction, the reaction: C00963-1.png represents a chain transfer, the radical Cl3C· inducing further polymerization: C00963-2.png C00963-3.png The phenomenon occurs also in other chain reactions such as cationic polymerization.

Related Terms:
1) telomerization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06260).
2) abstraction (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00045).
3) propagation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04881).
4) polymerization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04740).
5) cationic polymerization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00910).
6) radical (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05066).
7) chain reaction (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00960).

Images:
1) Not defined (https://goldbook.iupac.org/img/inline/C00963-1.png) 
2) Not defined (https://goldbook.iupac.org/img/inline/C00963-2.png) 
3) Not defined (https://goldbook.iupac.org/img/inline/C00963-3.png) 

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1094 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)

Citation: 'chain transfer' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00963

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