Oligomer

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Tetrapeptide structural formulae v.1

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Oligomer

An oligomer is a molecular complex that consists of a few monomer units, in contrast to a polymer which consists of many monomers. The term oligomer is derived from the Greek words "oligos," meaning "a few," and "meros," meaning "part." Oligomers can be classified based on the number of monomer units they contain, such as dimers (two monomers), trimers (three monomers), tetramers (four monomers), and so on.

Types of Oligomers

Oligomers can be categorized into several types based on their chemical structure and the nature of the monomers involved:

• Biological oligomers: These include proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides that are composed of a small number of monomer units. For example, oligopeptides are short chains of amino acids, and oligonucleotides are short sequences of nucleotides.
• Synthetic oligomers: These are artificially synthesized and include materials such as oligomeric siloxanes and oligomeric ethylene oxides.

Properties

Oligomers exhibit properties that are intermediate between those of monomers and polymers. They often have lower molecular weights and may display unique physical and chemical properties that are not observed in their monomeric or polymeric forms. For example, oligomers can have distinct solubility, viscosity, and melting point characteristics.

Applications

Oligomers have a wide range of applications in various fields:

• Biotechnology: Oligonucleotides are used in PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and as probes in genetic testing.
• Materials science: Oligomeric compounds are used in the production of resins, adhesives, and coatings.
• Pharmaceuticals: Oligomeric drugs are being developed for targeted therapies and as drug delivery systems.

Synthesis

The synthesis of oligomers can be achieved through various chemical processes, including:

• Step-growth polymerization: This method involves the reaction of bifunctional or multifunctional monomers to form oligomers.
• Chain-growth polymerization: In this process, monomers add to a growing chain one at a time, forming oligomers before reaching high molecular weights.

See Also

• Polymer
• Monomer
• Dimer
• Trimer
• Tetramer
• Oligopeptide
• Oligonucleotide