ring-opening polymerization 

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05396
A polymerization in which a cyclic monomer yields a monomeric unit which is acyclic or contains fewer cycles than the monomer.
Note:
If the monomer is polycyclic, the opening of a single ring is sufficient to classify the reaction as ring-opening polymerization.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2287. (Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 2308 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'ring-opening polymerization' 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.R05396 RIS BibTex EndNote
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Last revised: February 24, 2014