Structurally perfect ladder polymers: Shape and conversion

The influence of the symmetry and rigidity of Diels-Alder (DA) ladder polymers on their shape in solution is discussed. Theoretical evidence is presented, which shows that certain representatives of this class of polymers attain the unprecedented shape of two-dimensional coils. The second half of this article describes how one can unfold these polymers with chemical transformations and possibly even obtain fully aromatic ribbons.