Term: pre-polymer molecule
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04818

Definition:
A macromolecule or oligomer molecule capable of entering, through reactive groups, into further polymerization, thereby contributing more than one monomeric unit to at least one chain of the final macromolecule. A pre-polymer molecule capable of entering into further polymerization through reactive end-groups, often deliberately introduced, is known as a telechelic molecule.

Related Terms:
1) macromolecule (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03667).
2) oligomer molecule (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04286).
3) polymerization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04740).
4) monomeric unit (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M04018).
5) end-groups (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02092).
6) pre-polymer (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04817).

Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 2287. 'Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2290 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122287)

Citation: 'pre-polymer molecule' 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.P04818

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