Dear Friends, Polymer Chemistry (Royal Society of Chemistry), in the Year 2021 has named three Indian Polymer Chemists, viz., Prof. Priyadarsi De (IISER, Kolkata), Prof. Suhrit Ghosh (IACS, Kolkata), and Prof. Manikam Jayakannan (IISER, Pune), as “PIONEERING INVESTIGATORS 2021” in their recent issue of the journal (copy attached) (DOI: 10.1039/d1py90028e). This is very commendable. They join Dr Bhoje Gowd and Dr Raja Shanmugam who were also so named similarly in the year 2019! (“Pioneering Investigators 2019” by Polymer Chemistry, 2019, 10, 2896-3905 (Royal Society for Chemistry) (https://doi.org/10.1039/C9PY90078K). All the three Indian Polymer Chemists named this year are product of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Coincidently, Prof. Priyadarsi De (IISER, Kolkata), Prof. Suhrit Ghosh (IACS, Kolkata), and Prof. Manikam Jayakannan (IISER, Pune) are recipients of Prof. K. Kishore Memorial Award instituted by the Society for Polymer Science, India, in different years! (Please see: http://www.spsi.co.in/files/kawards.php.) This is both important, commendable and worth sharing. Very happy to share this information and Very Happy to be part of the Society for Polymer Science, India. Best wishes and regards, C.V. Avadhani (with inputs from Dr. S. Sivaram) Polymer Chemistry View Article Online EDITORIAL View Journal Pioneering investigators 2021 a b Cite this: DOI: 10.1039/d1py90028e Holger Frey and Emily Pentzer DOI: 10.1039/d1py90028e rsc.li/polymers This collection gathers the very best work “seismograph” for current topics and Colombani et al.’s study on copolymer from mid-career researchers who have emerging future trends. composition profiles and their ioniza- firmly established themselves in the field This is particularly interesting tion to weak polyelectrolytes (DOI: of polymer chemistry and continuously because in the last decade numerous 10.1039/D0PY01059F). In addition, per- publish creative, innovative work. The new challenges have come into focus in fectly monodisperse block copolymers 2021 Polymer Chemistry pioneering inves- the polymer sciences, which are increas- are studied by Petkau-Milroy, Palmans tigators were individually nominated by ingly shaping our field, as are also et al. with respect to their self-assembly members of the journal Editorial and reflected in this collection. Undoubtedly, in water (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01161D). Advisory Boards, and previous pioneering increasing awareness of limited fossil - “Smart”, responsive polymers. investigators, in recognition of their resources and the plastic waste issue Responsive polymers continue to play an achievements as pioneers of the field. play an increasing role for polymer important role in controlling materials The diversity of the research topics high- scientists. properties. In this context Klinger et al. lighted by these contributions illustrates The large number of excellent articles describe thermo- and oxidation-sensitive the broad impact of polymer chemistry compiled in this collection shine light polymethacrylates based on sulfoxide across science and engineering. on the vast field of polymer science and groups (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01321H). We were overwhelmed by the positive span from catalytic polymer synthesis to - Polymer-based nanoparticles.Self- response we received to our invitation to controlled radical polymerization to assembly of polymers into “unusual” Published on 04 March 2021. Downloaded 3/4/2021 1:15:07 PM. contribute to this collection. We received optoelectronic materials and so on. structures are the focus of several articles. almost 90% immediate acceptance of Here, we highlight a handful of topics in D’Agosto, Lansalot et al. report on a sur- our invitation to publish in this volume, this collection that represent current factant-free emulsion polymerization despite the Covid-19 pandemic leading and future directions: (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01266A). 2D-lenticu- to the shut down of laboratories and - Bio-based monomers and components. lar aggregates are prepared by solution limited access to some resources. Starting compounds based on biorenew- self-assembly of PNIPAM-based amphi- During their mid-career, many able sources are of increasing signifi- philic block copolymers, as presented by researchers choose to redefine the long- cance. This is expressed by the minire- Semsarilar and coworkers (DOI: 10.1039/ term objectives of their research pro- views of Li and Tao on biorenewable D0PY01193B). Quintieri and Gröschel grams, to establish challenging and high- cyclic lysine (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01387K), take a look at “naked micelles” as well- risk topics as well as more extensive as well as Della Monica and Kleij on defined polymer nanoparticles (DOI: research programs covering a whole sub- terpene monomers (DOI: 10.1039/ 10.1039/D0PY01408G). Further, aniso- field of importance. When the pressure D0PY00817F). As this field evolves, the tropic polymer nanoplatelets and the and insecurity of the first career stage has connection between bio-based and “sus- effect of chain defects on such structures waned, one has more freedom to define tainable” materials must be delineated. are studied by Wurm and coworkers research directions and get immersed in - Gradient and sequence-defined poly- (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01352H), and new ventures. In this respect, this collec- mers. Techniques that enable the study Paulusse and coworkers propose reactive tion can also be understood as a kind of and increasing precision control of copo- single-chain polymer nanoparticles as lymers can be exploited to generate per- a versatile platform towards protein fectly sequence-defined structures. This mimicry (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY00922A). aJohannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. is reflected in the work by Zhu et al. with Conjugated polymer-based nano-objects E-mail: [email protected] bTexas A&M University, College Station, USA. palindromic sequence-defined polymers are reviewed by Choi et al. (DOI: 10.1039/ E-mail: [email protected] (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01088J), and D0PY01389G). This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021 Polym. Chem. View Article Online Editorial Polymer Chemistry - Covalent bond exchange, adaptable • Pairing Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coup- • A pyridinium-pended conjugated networks and self-healing. Smulders and ling and catalyst transfer polymerization polyelectrolyte for efficient photo- coauthors turn to molecular exchange Communications: catalytic hydrogen evolution and organic dynamics in polyimine networks (DOI: • A shish-kebab-like supramolecular solar cells 10.1039/D0PY01555E), and Shipp et al. polymer and its light-responsive self- • Solution size variation of linear and demonstrate dynamic covalent exchange assembly into nanofibers dendritic bis-MPA analogs using of anhydride moieties in poly(thioether • Confined supramolecular polymers DOSY-1H NMR anhydrides) (DOI: 10.1039/D0PY01267J). in water with exceptional stability, • Stereoselective polymerization of - Polymer-systems for medical purposes. photoluminescence and chiroptical rac-lactide catalyzed by zwitterionic Polymers play an increasingly important properties calcium complexes role in the interface between synthetic • Mechanism and application of • Effect of backbone and end-group and natural materials. Nguyen and Lai surface-initiated ATRP in the presence of regioisomerism on thermomechanical review the use of stimuli-responsive poly- aZn0 plate properties of vanillin-based poly- mers for ocular disease treatment (DOI: • Substituent effects in iniferter urethane networks 10.1039/D0PY00919A), and Tian and photopolymerization: can bond homoly- • Clarification of the effects of topo- coauthors report the use of hyper- sis be enhanced by electronics? logical isomers on the mechanical branched polymers for synergistic • Catalyst free removal of trithiocar- strength of comb polyurethane cancer chemotherapy (DOI: 10.1039/ bonate RAFT CTAs from poly(vinylpyri- • Controlled ring-opening polymeriz- D0PY00862A). dine)s using tris(trimethylsilyl)silane ation of N-(3-tert-butoxy-3-oxopropyl) We hope our readers appreciate the and light glycine derived N-carboxyanhydrides excellent contributions from mid-career • Easily readable palindromic towards well-defined peptoid-based researchers from across the world sequence-defined polymers built by polyacids that are compiled in this collection. cascade thiol-maleimide Michael • An AIE-driven fluorescent polysac- The inspiration from reading these couplings charide polymersome as an enzyme- articles may not only come from the • Cationic amphiphilic alternating responsive FRET nanoprobe to study the results reported, but also from the copolymers with tunable morphology real-time delivery aspects in live cells researchers’ perseverance and dedica- • Crosslinked metallo-polyelectrolytes • Expanding the thiol–X toolbox: tion to moving the field of polymer with enhanced flexibility and dimen- photoinitiation and materials appli- chemistry forward during a period of sional stability for anion-exchange cation of the acid-catalyzed thiol–ene great uncertainty. We hope you enjoy membranes (ACT) reaction reading the many excellent contri- Articles: • Organocatalyzed closed-loop chemi- butions in this collection! • Naked micelles: well-defined cal recycling of thermo-compressed Reviews: polymer nanoparticles from photo-clea- films of poly(ethylene furanoate) Published on 04 March 2021. Downloaded 3/4/2021 1:15:07 PM. • Poly(ε-lysine) and its derivatives via vable block copolymer micelles • Temperature-mediated molecular ring-opening polymerization