Title: cyclic macromolecule
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - cyclic macromolecule
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.15429
Status: current

Definition
Macromolecule in which the termini of the backbone are connected to form a ring.



Note
Linear macromolecules comprising constitutional units that include small cyclic structures [e.g., the phenylene groups in poly(ethylene terephthalate)] are not cyclic macromolecules. However, a cyclic molecule comprising such constitutional (repeating) units is a cyclic macromolecule.

Source
- PAC, 2008, 80, 201. 'Structure-based nomenclature for cyclic organic macromolecules (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)' on page 205 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200880020201)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/15429/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/15429/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/15429/xml

Citation: Citation: 'cyclic macromolecule' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.15429
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Accessed: 2026-07-29T17:53:43+00:00