Recent progress in single-crystal structures of organic polymers

Growing single crystals of organic polymers is very important but extremely challenging. Currently, such a field has received substantial attention and inspiring progress has been witnessed. Thus, it is the right time to provide a review on suitable polymer single crystals, whose structures have been clearly confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction or electron diffraction analysis. In this mini-review, a summary has been given based on the following branches: (a) linear polymer crystals; (b) polymer single crystals obtained through topochemical polymerization in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation; (c) single crystal growth of covalent organic frameworks (COFs); and (d) growth of polymer single crystals via some emerging strategies. Especially, the preparation, properties, structural factors, importance, advantages, and potential applications of polymer single crystals are presented.

Automated summary

Growing single crystals of organic polymers is important but challenging. The field has received substantial attention and witnessed inspiring progress. This review provides a summary of suitable polymer single crystals, with confirmed structures, and presents their preparation, properties, and potential applications.