High-Throughput/High-Output Experimentation in RAFT Polymer Synthesis

This contribution provides a perspective on the state of the art of high-throughput and high-output experimentation (HT/HO-E) methods as utilized for the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) synthesis, characterization, and applications of polymer materials. Continuous developments in experimental workflows for commercially available automated parallel synthesizers and characterization platforms have contributed significantly to the progress in this field. Over the past 20 years, these experimental methods have enabled detailed kinetic investigations of a significant number of RAFT polymerizations in the preparation of comprehensive polymer libraries that have facilitated materials selection in cutting-edge technologies, such as nanomedicine and organic electronics. Nevertheless, HT/HO-E for polymer research is still at its dawn. There remain challenges that need to be addressed before the full potential of these methodologies can be realized. These include the need for rapid automated polymer purification methods (or improved synthetic methods) and more efficient on-line characterization protocols.